"Madam, per your instructions, I’ve carefully traced the origins of the jade pendant. It came from a woman named Zhou Qin, but she suddenly disappeared over a month ago. From questioning those close to her, I discovered that the pendant was stolen from the coffin of her sister-in-law."
Helian Yu’s willow-shaped brows furrowed.
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The man across from her nervously swallowed and carried on, "According to what I was told, the pendant was a token of love given to her sister-in-law by her husband. I proceeded to investigate the man—his name is Shen Li, a firefighter who retired from service. He died ten years ago in a fire and was recognized as a martyr. His records, however, are inaccessible to me due to my limited authority."
As Helian Yu listened, something started to feel off. The assertiveness of that girl from the morning still lingered vividly in her mind.
Shen Li, firefighter, martyr.
How could there be such coincidences?
The man fell silent. Taking a deep breath, Dai Zhong continued, "Forgive my incompetence; we still have no leads on the thief who took the jade pendant. However, I will make every effort. Please give me another chance."
"Thank you for your hard work. I’ll arrange further assistance for you."
Helian Yu ended the call, furrowing her brows in contemplation. After a moment, she instructed her secretary, "Look into Shen Li. I want every record you can find on him."
A martyr’s identity receives special protection by the state, limiting Dai Zhong’s investigative access. But as far as Helian Yu was concerned, such restrictions didn’t apply.
The secretary acknowledged her orders and stepped aside to make calls.
The afternoon passed swiftly.
At sunset, the secretary ended a call and approached her with a heavy expression.
"Madam, Shen Li’s file is classified as top-secret. I don’t have the authority to access it."
Helian Yu’s hand froze mid-motion, the porcelain tea cup threatening to spill its pale-colored tea.
She suddenly raised her head, her gaze sharp, "Top-secret? Who in the world is he?"
Top-secret personnel—someone even Liu Qingfeng couldn’t investigate.
For someone to originate from such a small place as Qingzhou was incredible.
"The white jade pendant originated from him. What’s his connection to Sang Ziming?" Helian Yu murmured softly.
"Then we’ll strike from those close to him—Shen You’an, was it? I want to find out what kind of background this Shen family truly has."
The secretary hesitated and said with concern, "What about the young master...?"
Helian Yu snorted coldly, "Before, I was willing to hold back somewhat, but now that she’s entangled with the jade pendant, don’t blame me. I must unravel the pendant’s origins, and it must be in my hands. Send support to Dai Zhong—make sure that pendant is tracked down promptly."
At that moment, the voice of the butler sounded respectfully from outside the door, "Sir has returned."
Soon, Liu Qingfeng, dressed in a dark coat, strode into the room.
Helian Yu rose with a radiant smile, "Back so early today?"
She moved forward without hesitation, intending to help Liu Qingfeng remove his coat.
However, Liu Qingfeng merely cast her a long look, rejecting her approach.
Helian Yu’s smile stiffened briefly but quickly regained its composure, glowing once more. "Someone under your management must be misbehaving again, am I right? I’ve always told you, you’re too soft-hearted. When needed, you should discipline them—be firm with punishment. Otherwise, how can they respect you as the Governor? They’ll just keep pushing boundaries...."
"Madam, your authority seems unmatched. Why don’t I step down as Governor and let you take my place?"
Liu Qingfeng responded with an expressionless tone.
Helian Yu felt her chest tighten and shot back, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Liu Qingfeng’s face instantly darkened, "Do I need to spell out everything you did this morning at Lanya High School?"
Helian Yu’s smile gradually faded. She lifted her gaze and stared straight at him. "Have you come to accuse me?"
"Judging by your reaction, you know what you did was wrong."
Helian Yu’s face turned stern, "You dedicate all your time to work. How much care have you shown Xixi? Do you even realize how close she is to losing her way? If I hadn’t intervened, what would’ve happened to her? Everything I’ve done—it’s for you, for Xixi, for this family!"
As she spoke, her glistening eyes grew moist. A woman who was always strong and dignified suddenly showing vulnerability was undeniably striking.
But over the years, Liu Qingfeng had grown immune to this display. This time, he remained unmoved.
"I owe you—what I promised during our marriage, I’ve failed to deliver, letting you bear many grievances all these years. That’s why I’ve turned a blind eye to some of your actions, including your excessive control over Xixi. I understand your love as a mother. However, this time, you’ve crossed the line. That child is only a kid—a martyr’s descendant at that. The one who brought shame isn’t the child, but you. It’s me."