Hearing Gu Jiaojiao’s tone, which was clearly not a joke, Han Jingshen froze for a second, but his face remained impassive.

But inwardly, he grumbled, ’Didn’t Su Shuochi marry a fairy like you even when he was poor and crippled?’

But he didn’t dare say that out loud. Instead, he steered the conversation back to the case, asking uncertainly.

"So, are you saying there’s a problem with Doctor Ye’s wife? That perhaps she was the one who led him to that organization?"

"Mm, that’s a strong possibility. But it wasn’t his wife. Doctor Ye supposedly knew a movie actress, one who was even a little famous.

He was very fond of the actress, but then she suddenly disappeared. The story goes that she starved to death.

I strongly suspect she faked her death to assume a new identity, or perhaps she fled the country."

Gu Jiaojiao and Su Shuochi had to dig into Doctor Ye’s entire family history before they found a few clues.

When Doctor Ye was eighteen, the girlfriend he was infatuated with fell for his father instead and became his fifth wife. This caused a complete rupture between Doctor Ye and his father, and from that day on, he despised the Ye family.

Many years later, at his mother’s arrangement, Doctor Ye married a woman he didn’t love. They had a daughter, Ye Xi, who is now Third Aunt Si.

His unhappy marriage only deepened his resentment. Just as he was on the verge of bringing the Ye family to ruin, he met his true love.

A movie actress who, while not a huge star, had a measure of fame.

Normally, no girl, not even one from an ordinary family, would have been interested in a scion of the declining Ye family at that time.

What’s more, Doctor Ye’s wife was still alive. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, this actress fell for him.

The two were drawn to each other and wanted to be together, but unfortunately, the Ye family soon ceased to exist.

No one knew if Doctor Ye ever regretted his actions. He had conspired with outsiders to destroy his own family.

The destitute Doctor Ye couldn’t even support his beloved girlfriend and the daughter he had with his wife.

As a result, the woman he loved supposedly starved to death. He then wandered from place to place with his daughter until they eventually met Elder Si.

On the surface, it all seemed quite straightforward. The tragic story of Doctor Ye and his daughter was enough to earn anyone’s sympathy.

However, Gu Jiaojiao couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, which is why she was sharing her hypothesis with Han Jingshen.

What if the woman Doctor Ye loved never actually died? Wouldn’t that suggest this was all premeditated?

After listening to Gu Jiaojiao’s analysis, Han Jingshen frowned in deep thought. Her account matched most of what his team had already uncovered.

At the time, his colleagues had all dismissed the idea that Doctor Ye could be involved with the organization. But with this new hypothesis, it suddenly seemed entirely possible, even obvious!

"So you’re saying... Doctor Ye’s so-called lover didn’t just want to lead him into the organization, but the entire Ye family? And when the family fell, she faked her death, only to resurface quietly after Doctor Ye and his daughter connected with the Si Family?

And now she wants to recruit Third Aunt Si and her children? Is that the theory?"

Han Jingshen laid out the analysis while posing the question. He couldn’t solve a case based on imagination alone.

"Theoretically, that would be her goal. But the men of the Si Family are very upstanding. Perhaps they sensed Third Aunt Si’s intentions and slowly grew distant from their mother because of it."

"In that case, do you think Doctor Ye might have known Elder Si’s true identity? That he approached him deliberately, intending to use him?"

"I’m not entirely sure about that. After all, I’ve only met Doctor Ye once. I just know he’s been by Elder Si’s side, researching medicine.

He only started taking on numerous apprentices in the last two years. That in itself surely points to some ulterior motive. The question is whether he only made contact with the organization recently, or if he was connected to them all along!

If that’s the case, you’ll have to proceed with caution. Whatever you do, don’t tip them off."

"So what do we do now?" Han Jingshen blurted out. The question revealed his subconscious reliance on Gu Jiaojiao, even though he already had his own ideas.

"First, you tell Elder Si, of course. Then you keep a close watch on Doctor Ye. Whatever he’s planning, you all act like you don’t know a thing and wait for the right opportunity."

"Okay, thank you for your guidance, Miss Gu. I won’t disturb your rest any longer. Get some sleep."

After speaking, Han Jingshen glanced at his watch. Seeing it was already four-thirty in the morning, he gave a slightly embarrassed smile and turned to leave.

Yawning, Gu Jiaojiao saw Han Jingshen out. She locked the courtyard gate, then went back into the living room and bolted the main door.

She hadn’t pulled an all-nighter in so long and was no longer used to it. ’Who would have thought? In my past life, I used to pull all-nighters for surgery and still be full of energy the next day.’

She went upstairs and lay on her bed, her mind drifting. ’Thank goodness Su Shuochi is coming home tomorrow.’

Her thoughts drifted until she fell asleep. She didn’t stir until the RING RING of the phone downstairs startled her awake.

Gu Jiaojiao rubbed her bleary eyes and checked the time. It was almost eight o’clock. Downstairs, the phone was still ringing insistently.

She then remembered she was home alone and had no idea how long it had been ringing.

She rushed downstairs and picked up the phone. "Hello...?"

"Honey, did you sleep well? I might not be able to make it back today."

Su Shuochi’s apologetic voice came from the other end of the line, low and deep, but still pleasant.

Gu Jiaojiao paused for a moment. "Su Shuochi, were you not able to get a ticket?"

"I haven’t been to the airport yet. Tickets should be easy to get. It’s not a holiday, so not many people are flying."

He explained in a light tone, tinged with reluctance.

"Then why not?" Gu Jiaojiao asked, frowning. It wasn’t that she was dependent on him, but she was worried he had run into trouble.

"It’s my second sister, Su Ermei. She’s in trouble. She smashed a woman from their production team over the head. My brother-in-law called my dad and said Su Ermei has been taken away. I don’t know the full details yet."

There was a hint of frustration in Su Shuochi’s voice. He had thought he’d be home with her in just a few more hours.

But then his parents told him Su Ermei had gotten into a fight and been taken into custody.

As much as he disliked his sister, he had to go back to his hometown to see what was going on.

Gu Jiaojiao’s frown deepened. She could guess why Su Shuochi’s sister would go looking for a fight.

It had to be because her brother’s leg had healed. She was likely getting revenge on someone who had mocked her in the past.

Then again, it was also possible she was simply throwing her weight around. Gu Jiaojiao had never met Su Ermei, so she couldn’t know for sure.

But since he wasn’t coming back today anyway, there was no point dwelling on it.

So she comforted him, "Don’t worry too much. Go home and see what’s going on first. I’m sure there’s a way to resolve it."

"Mm... I’ll head to my hometown then. I’ll make you something delicious when I get back," he said, his voice sounding a little weary.

"Okay, I’ll be waiting. Bye," Gu Jiaojiao replied understandingly.

After hanging up, Gu Jiaojiao went upstairs to wash up, change her clothes, and head straight to school.

With Su Shuochi not home, she didn’t even have time for breakfast. She really couldn’t be blamed.

Stepping into the courtyard, she felt the warm sunlight on her skin. She stretched out her arms, closed her eyes, and savored the beautiful morning.