Ch. 1261..1270

Chapter 1261

Chapter 1261

Zuko's face was as dark as the inked squid in the owner's aquarium. The owner's smile changed from mischievous to forced, then to a grimace. He then carried the plate of oysters to other customers. Zuko pursed his lips in exasperation. The oysters were freshly caught that morning, large, meaty, and perfectly grilled-undoubtedly delicious. But what would he do after eating them? His libido would be boosted, yet he would have no outlet to release it.

He turned to look at Lina, who was eating a small scallop. She chuckled softly when the delicate tip of her nose lightly touched the shell. The sparkling sea reflected her profile, and her eyes were filled with all the beauty in the world.

Zuko's heart raced a little as he licked his dry lips. He barely suppressed certain thoughts. He sat back beside her, but the fish didn't taste as good as before

"What were you doing just now?" Lina said with a smile, "So many delicious dishes were served. I'll finish them all if you don't start eating!"

"Oh, it's nothing." He looked at her and said, "Don't just focus on eating. Have some drinks, too."

Lina resisted a bit, resting her chin on both hands. "Don't mention drinks to me now. I have a trauma about it!"

"Silly girl." Zuko ruffled her hair, smiling. "Don't worry. I've already asked for it to be investigated. The results will be out soon."

"Are you so sure?" Lina asked.

"I found an expert in this field!"

Zuko peeled a blanched shrimp and put it on her plate.

Lina suddenly thought of someone after seeing how confident Zuko looked. "You're talking about Fred, aren't you?"

Zuko froze amidst peeling another shrimp and looked at Lina with a somewhat complicated expression.

He wondered how she had figured it out so suddenly. There was no mystery left for her now.

"Yes, I should have thought of him!" Lina's eyes lit up. "He has several beverage formulas from the Grists and is indeed an expert in this field! Moreover, regular people wouldn't be able to do something like spiking beverages, so it must be someone from the industry!"

Lina hugged Zuko happily and gently kissed his head.

"Is this... a reward?" Zuko asked.

"What else?" Lina asked back.

"This little reward isn't enough," he said softly.

Lina smiled. "Then what kind of reward do you want?"

'The kind like after one has oysters, of course...' Zuko coughed lightly and smiled without saying a word.

At that moment, the sound of a car drew near.

A large truck was parked outside the restaurant, and a thin young girl started carrying boxes of seafood out of it. The boxes looked heavy, but the girl seemed to be managing.

Lina jolted and carefully looked over. The girl wore a baseball cap, and the pointed chin under the brim seemed familiar.

"It's her?" Lina was a little surprised.

"Who?" Zuko asked.

"That girl, Lena!" Lina replied.

Zuko followed the direction Lina pointed.

Lena worked swiftly and efficiently, finishing the delivery in no time. The owner came out with a fish and handed it to her. Lena nodded without objection.

The weather was too hot, so Lena didn't leave right away. She sat down in the shade outside the restaurant, took off her cap, and used it as a fan. She looked thoughtfully out at the sea. When the owner served the final dish, Lina curiously stopped him. "That girl..."

"Oh, you mean Lena?" The owner smiled and said, "She often comes over to do odd jobs for me."

"Odd jobs?"

"Yes, she helps me with loading and unloading the goods. Heh! Don't be fooled by her size. She's quite strong and works just as hard as a man!"

"She did so much for you, and you only gave her one fish?" Lina asked.

"So what?" The owner frowned. "We agreed on the price beforehand. She unloads the goods, and I give her the fish. It's a fair exchange!"

Lina was taken aback, and she told Zuko after the owner left, "What kind of fair exchange is this? I think he's taking advantage of her!"

Zuko had a different perspective. "Both parties agreed to the terms willingly, so it's not taking advantage of her."

"But..." He paused. "The girl might not know the market value or the worth of her physical strength, and that's how he managed to take advantage of the situation."

Lina looked at Lena's petite figure and felt sorry for her. The fish appeared less than fresh, likely leftovers from the day before, with flies buzzing around it. Despite this, Lena seemed disconnected from the world, wearing an indifferent expression.

After discussing with Zuko, Lina gave the owner some extra money and asked him to pay Lena wages.

Initially, he was reluctant, but not wanting to offend the two big spenders, he finally agreed. "Actually, don't be fooled by her size. She's quite remarkable!"

"What do you mean?"

"At such a young age, she works multiple jobs every day to support herself. Isn't that remarkable?"

Lina was stunned. "Doesn't she have any family?"

The owner pondered for a moment. "She doesn't talk much," he said. "It's quite difficult to communicate with her. But from what I can tell, she doesn't have any family. Otherwise, how could she be doing all this work at this age when she should be studying?"

Lina nodded and looked over to where Lena had been, but she was gone.

As Zuko held her and was about to leave, someone suddenly rushed out from the corner. Lina was startled, and Zuko instinctively stood before her with his guard up.

"Is this yours?" a young voice asked.

Lina recomposed herself and saw that it was Lena. She was holding the bills Lina had given to the owner.

Before Lina could say anything, Lena spoke again. "Why did you give me money?"

Chapter 1262

Chapter 1262

Lena asked, "Why did you give me money?"

Lina was taken aback.

"Don't get me wrong. I didn't mean anything else—" Lena interrupted her before she could end her sentence.

"I asked, why did you give me money?" Lena's voice was clear and firm, showing maturity beyond her years.

Lina took a deep breath. "I wanted to thank you for helping me out in the restroom last time."

Lena remained silent but pushed the money back into Lina's hands. "No need to thank me."

As Lena turned to leave, Lina wanted to call her back. But Lena stopped and turned around again. A gust of wind lifted the brim of her cap, finally allowing Lina to see her face clearly.

Lena was pretty, with a touch of youthful intelligence in her expression, but her eyes carried a sense of world-weariness beyond her years.

"If you ever encounter trouble again, you can find me to help you," Lena said.

"But... don't I need to know your name and how to contact you?" Lina asked.

Lena chuckled. "After we met last time, didn't you investigate me? You claimed not to know my name."

Lina and Zuko exchanged glances, realizing they had met their match.

The best approach when dealing with a strong-willed opponent was to be straightforward, so Lina said directly, "I did investigate you, mainly because I was curious why you helped me. Also... I didn't find out anything about you, except that your name is Lena."

Lena paused for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

Her smile was innocent and mischievous, like a child who had just succeeded in playing a prank. "I didn't expect that even people like you sometimes fail to find information about others. I thought you had an extensive network!"

Lina stayed silent.

"I'm Lena Harding." Lena adjusted her cap. "If you need me, go to that bar."

Before Lina could say anything else, Lena left swiftly with a faint smile. "What an odd person." Zuko chuckled softly. "But she doesn't seem bad."

"Yeah, she would've acted on it already if she had ill intentions toward me."

"It's a pretty fruitful day today." Zuko looked at her. "We know her name now. I'll have someone investigate her further and find out everything about her."

Lena returned to her shabby rented room and removed her cap and sweat-soaked T-shirt. She cleaned the fish and put it in the pot. Then, she opened a cold beer can from the fridge.

The sound of the tab popping was a refreshing contrast to the heat of the small room.

Lena took a sip of the beer, which tasted a bit bitter. She frowned, still not completely used to the flavor.

"Lina Jenner..." she murmured with a smile. She put down the beer can and took out a diary from the drawer.

She carefully wrote the name on the last page of the diary. Then she went to check on the fish soup bubbling in the pot. She added some salt and lowered the heat before sitting back on the kitchen floor to flip through the diary again.

She had lost count of how many times she had read it. Many sentences were already ingrained in her memory, but she couldn't get enough of them. Reading the diary every day had become an essential part of her life.

Running her fingers over the familiar handwriting felt like touching that person's face. Only then did she feel like the world didn't abandon her and that she had family, even though that family member was now behind bars, waiting for execution on charges of human trafficking.

The diary's pages had turned yellow, and the stories inside were from long ago.

Lena read the words line by line. "Tonight at the nightclub, a few men gave me a hard time. I was there to serve them liquor, but they insisted I accompany them for drinks. They were too many for me to handle. Just when I thought I had no hope, he appeared."

Chapter 1263

Chapter 1263

"Today, I saw him again. This time, I was cornered by debt collectors, and he came to my rescue like a brave warrior. He paid off my debts and gave me some money to live a good life...

"Today, I sold a girl. I know I am walking down an irreversible path. It's a treacherous road, but I had no other choice... I remember someone once told me to live a good life, but I'm sorry, I won't be able to do it...

"I sent my daughter to the countryside and send her money regularly. I know I'm not a good mother, but I hope my daughter can have the peaceful life I couldn't. That way, I won't let you down... "Nicholas Thompson."

Lena took a deep breath and slowly closed the diary.

The name Nicholas Thompson appeared several times in her mother's diary.

Was he her father? He must be.

Lena smiled but restrained it. Over the years, she had learned to hide her emotions, even when she was alone.

She had finished most of the beer, and the fish soup was ready. There was some leftover rice in the kitchen.

Lena ate the fish soup with rice, simply filling her stomach. She wiped her mouth and wrote a few sentences in the blank space at the back of the diary, as she did every day.

Her wandering life had made her withdrawn, but she still longed for her father's love, her mother's care, and the warmth and happiness of a family. Since she could not have them, she wrote them down. Unable to see Krystal, Lena wrote in her diary as if she were talking to her.

"I saw Lina again today... Is she my sister? She's so beautiful! I've never seen such a pretty girl before. Her fiance is handsome too, and his voice is pleasant-he's a good match for my sister! "She wanted to give me money today, but I didn't take it. I feel that if I took it, I might not be able to see her again... Mm, I want to keep her thinking of me so that I can see her often!

"Mom, I'm not alone in Centrolis anymore. I found my father and my sister, and I found your gun... But I hope they never find out about my identity because I want each of them to be well and not get their lives in turmoil because of me.

"Mom, am I doing the right thing?"

After writing the last word, Lena looked up at the sky outside the window. A few pigeons were flying home in the evening glow. She closed her diary with a wry smile. Once Krystal was executed, Lena would no longer have a mother. She would never have a family.

Lina gathered herself and bravely faced the ongoing storm.

The news spread like wildfire, dominating the trending topics list despite Sol Entertainment's PR tactics.

The police lacked evidence, and they could not confirm Lina's guilt with just one anonymous tip-off. Nevertheless, that phone call became a crucial bargaining chip in the ongoing battle for Lina's innocence. "How is it? Did you find out anything?" Lina was anxious to know the answer.

The IT department's experts removed their equipment and looked up at her. "We can determine the general location of the phone call."

"Where is it?" she asked.

"A villa on the outskirts." Several people had searched separately and had come to a unanimous conclusion. "But the location is strange. There seems to be signal interference around, which is why we can't pinpoint the exact address."

"Lina, give me another day." Renee stepped forward. "I think I can crack this technical issue. Let me try!"

Lina squeezed her hand and gave her a grateful glance.

Just then, someone urgently knocked on the door.

Lina went to open it and saw Zuko and Toph standing outside, both smiling excitedly.

"Pammy, you won't believe what we found out!" Toph pulled out a report filled with dense data and test results, all related to the drinks served at that party!

"Look at this." Zuko pointed to a circled part. "This substance is the culprit behind the celebrities' vomiting and diarrhea that night!"

Lina looked at the cluster of chemical symbols and fell into deep thought.

After a while, she exclaimed, "I remember now!

"When an issue arose with the Grist Group's Rose Dew, I had a bottle of the drink tested. The substance in question was found in their formula!"

Chapter 1264

Chapter 1264

Zuko smiled lightly. This was exactly what he wanted to say.

"That's right, it was Fred who found it," he said softly. "He has some expertise in this area, so investigating the formula was a piece of cake."

"But..." Lina blinked. "I thought someone would secretly dispose of the drinks to destroy the evidence after the event that night. I never expected you could find a sample!"

"It wasn't my brother who found it!" Toph grinned. "Guess who helped us this time, Pammy?"

Lina's heart skipped a beat.

'Could it be her again? Lena?' she wondered.

"Someone did want to destroy the evidence." Zuko smiled faintly. "But that's a massive task. Just as that person was trying to get rid of the remaining problematic drinks, Lena caught him."

Toph continued. "It's quite a coincidence. That person was trying to dispose of the evidence in the alley behind the bar where Lena works!"

The subsequent events did not need to be explained further.

Lena was already quite skilled at dealing with men, so catching the person and getting the remaining problematic drinks was a breeze for her.

Fred's testing was also easy for him, and everything fell into place.

Lina heaved a sigh of relief.

This was a collaborative effort!

"Fred said that only people from his family, the Grists, could have this formula." Zuko's expression darkened slightly. "The formula came about because the Grist Group was trying to cut costs. After taking over the company, Fred's first action was to recall and destroy all problematic drinks and this formula."

"So, this is undoubtedly the work of the Grists!" Lina bit her lip and snickered.

The answer was already evident-Violet was the only Grist with whom she was acquainted.

"Violet never liked me back in university. I reported her family's drinks, and then she accidentally used the face cream that Gia got me in Southeast Asia, which caused her disfigurement. I can't imagine anyone else who would resort to such despicable means to harm me!"

"But..." Lina frowned. "The incident happened at the Thompson Group's film studio opening ceremony, and the targets were all major celebrities. There were so many people present that day. I doubt Violet would be capable of poisoning anyone, even if she wanted to."

Zuko rubbed Lina's head and smiled tenderly. Lina was intelligent, quick-witted, and had exceptional analytical skills!

"So, there must be someone else behind this," Zuko said in a low voice.

"Could it be the Thompson Group's rivals?" Toph widened his eyes. "Or... did Uncle Nicholas offend someone in the underworld?"

Lina fell silent, pondering, when her phone in her pocket suddenly vibrated a few times.

There were several unread messages from the same person: Desiree.

Subconsciously, Lina glanced at Zuko.

Zuko started to sweat, almost leaning back against the wall with both hands up.

Toph and Renee smiled and left, not wanting to witness Lina disciplining Zuko.

Once they were alone in the room, Lina began reading the text messages.

Desiree had sent old photos of her and Zuko at the beach during their childhood. In the pictures, they were building sandcastles together. Desiree looked cheerful, while Zuko appeared more serious.

The beach in the photos was the Hamertons' private beach, a place Zuko often took Pammy to when they were young.

Looking at the pictures, Lina felt slight discomfort, like a thorn stuck in her heart. Though it didn't hurt much, it made her uneasy.

Just then, Desiree suddenly deleted all the photos and sent a message.

[I'm sorry! I sent them to the wrong person!]

Lina gnashed her teeth as she held her phone in a vice grip. As if she would buy what Desiree said!

First, Desiree sent these "childhood sweethearts" photos and then precisely deleted them at the right time. Lina did not even know such tricks existed!

"Lina, I—" Zuko was just about to explain when his phone also received several messages.

Desiree: [Zuko, I was tidying up the drawer and found so many photos of us when we were kids... We were so cute!]

Desiree: [Zuko, I didn't understand it when I was young, but I realized now that I grew up that the beach you took me to was the same one where you used to take Pammy, right? So you took me there because you couldn't find Pammy...]

Desiree: [I feel really sad about what happened to Lina this time. I don't know how to comfort you, but I hope you eat and sleep well. Don't be too worried. I'll always be by your side!]

Desiree: [Zuko, if you're feeling down, come out for some fresh air and have a couple of drinks. I'll be waiting for you at the bar!]

The last message actually read: [I'll keep this a secret for you, so Lina won't know... Men also need to relax! As your good buddy, I'll take you out tonight and help you relax. How about that?]

Zuko was quite straightforward and read the messages from beginning to end, even though he grimaced and complained inwardly the whole time.

"Zuko!" Lina grinned and addressed him using Desiree's tone, "Would you like some iced green tea to cool off from the heat?"

Chapter 1265

Chapter 1265

Zuko stared at Lina in astonishment. She had brought him a can of green tea, but it felt like a scalding hot potato that could scorch his hands. "What's wrong?" Lina smiled playfully. "You drink beverages from others, but when I give one to you, it's like poison. Are you that afraid?" Zuko quickly put the can down and reached for her hand. "Lina!"

Lina turned away, and Zuko embraced her from behind. She struggled a bit but could not break free from his strong grip, so she surrendered and let him hold her. Although she stopped moving, her eyes glanced elsewhere.

"Lina," Zuko whispered into her ear. His low, husky voice carried a hint of remorse and innocence. "I don't know why she sent these to me."

"Are the photos photoshopped?" she asked.

"Well..." Zuko was taken aback and truthfully admitted, "No."

Lina turned to look at him, her cheeks a bit puffed up. "So, you really took her to the beach?"

"When... you were not around," Zuko explained incoherently, "She came to visit in Centrolis. My parents were worried about her safety and took her to our family's private beach.

"Lina, look!" Zuko zoomed in on the photos. "Look at my expression at that time! I didn't even smile! I was very reluctant because I always thought that the beach was reserved for you and that I could only take you there!"

Lina pouted, but her anger had already subsided by half. She found it amusing that she had gotten jealous over such a little thing. After all, Zuko was just a nine-year-old child at that time. What could he do? If she really picked a fight with him over this, it would be unreasonable.

Clearly, Desiree was the one with ulterior motives. She had known the Hamerton brothers since childhood and had taken advantage of Lina's 20 years of separation from the Thompsons to repeatedly use those childhood memories with Zuko to provoke her.

"If I fall for it, I'm an idiot," Lina murmured.

Zuko was confused. "What did you say?"

Lina smiled slyly. "I said, you should hurry to your appointment. We don't want your 'buddy' to wait anxiously and blame me for it then!"

"Lina!"

Seeing Zuko sweating with worry, Lina could not help but laugh.

"Alright, I'm just messing with you." She gently held his hand. "I admit I felt a little jealous, but I'm not unreasonable. I know exactly how you feel about me."

"So..." Zuko's eyes twinkled as he pulled her. "So, you're going to the appointment with me!"

"Huh?"

Zuko pushed her into the car and grinned, his smile even brighter than hers had been just moments before.

Desiree was at the bar, ordering a cocktail. When she saw Zuko come in, she waved at him. Unfortunately, her delight quickly faded upon seeing he was with Lina.

Lina was wearing a soft smile, and her long hair was down, making her look prettier than usual.

Zuko had his arm carefully wrapped around her, and he looked like he was holding an invaluable gem.

Desiree's heart sank. She felt a pang of jealousy and could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.

"Lina... what brings you here too?" Desiree asked.

Lina looked at her with a smile but said nothing.

"Look, I didn't even know you were coming, and I didn't get a seat for you-"

Lina looked around the bar and said, "It looks like the place has been cleared out. "It should be at its busiest time right now, but there's only the three of us."

Lina then looked around and smiled. "And you said you didn't get me a seat? There are so many empty ones here! Thanks, Desiree!"

Desiree clenched her fists and began to scowl.

"Lina, are you that worried about Zuko having a drink with me? There are no other girls. Do you have to keep such a tight leash around him?

"I'll keep an eye on him for you. Lina, don't worry!"

"I'm worried because you're here," Lina said with a smile, gritting each word through her teeth.

"You! What do you mean? I grew up with Zuko. Do we not have the freedom to have a drink together anymore?"

"No." Zuko took a step forward and looked at Desiree with a smile.

Chapter 1266

Chapter 1266

Zuko took a step forward but held Lina's hands tightly.

"Desiree, there are some things I must clarify with you. We had a childhood connection, but we've grown up now." Zuko paused and enunciated each word. "There's a difference between men and women!"

"You-"

"Also, I don't have any 'bros' or 'buddies', only one younger brother, Toph. I do have a few close friends, but they're all male."

Zuko smiled. "Do you understand what I mean now?"

Desiree could not help the twitching of her lips.

"Zuko, I know you're dating Lina, but you can't not be friends with the opposite sex just because you have a fiancee, right?"

"Are you trying to say that pure friendships exist between men and women?" Zuko smirked. "But I think that's the most irresponsible thing to do in a relationship!"

"Zuko..."

"Of course, normal interactions are completely reasonable, but anything that exceeds the normal range..." There was a pause before Zuko uttered heavily, "Have some self-respect!" Desiree took two steps back and looked at Zuko in disbelief.

Growing up in a family like the Harpers, Desiree was used to seeing elders who had families outside their marriages. The legitimate wives had to endure and coexist peacefully with their husbands' mistresses.

In Desiree's view, men were bound to cheat. Even the most dominant legitimate wife had to bow her head before her husband. If a woman liked a man, she could just snatch him away regardless of his engagement.

Desiree didn't even think there was anything wrong with this behavior.

However, Zuko delivered a decisive blow that shattered her lifelong beliefs today He confronted her directly, challenging her views on relationships and exposing them as rubbish.

"I've said everything I needed to say." Zuko hugged Lina tightly. "I think I've made it clear. Don't blame me for falling out if you continue to bother us."

"You-"

"I won't be having a drink." Zuko smiled. "Lina and I have other things to attend to. Goodbye."

Zuko led Lina out of the bar without looking back.

As Lina let him hold her hand, she felt his palm's warmth and knew she had everything she needed in the world. She tried to walk steadily but was so excited she wanted to jump up and down and laugh out loud.

After leaving the bar, Lina stopped and looked at Zuko.

"Zuko..."

"What's the matter?" he asked.

Lina thought about being polite and saying, "You offended Desiree because of me. That equals offending the Harpers. Is it worth it?"

Perhaps she should pretend to be understanding and say, "Desiree has been your friend for so many years. It's not fair to treat her like this."

Then she thought, 'Why should I be so hypocritical? What is there to be polite about with him?'

His words expressed exactly what she felt!

Therefore, all she wanted to do now was...

"Hahaha!" Lina burst into laughter.

Zuko was taken aback. Before he could react, she sprang onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She planted a resounding kiss on his face! Zuko was caught off guard and froze.

"Zuko, you're amazing!"

"I..." Zuko blushed slightly.

"I loved the way you spoke!"

Zuko looked at Lina tenderly and smiled. He held her slender waist, gently placed her back on the ground, and stroked her hair. "Actually, there was something I didn't say just now."

"What is it?"

"That beach..." He whispered next to her ear, "I'll only take you with me in the future!"

Lina tiptoed and rubbed her nose against his with a sweet smile.

As they were about to walk back, Zuko's phone rang.

"Mr. Hamerton! Where are you right now?" It was Fred's voice, sounding a bit panicked.

Zuko's brow furrowed. "What happened?"

Fred panted for breath and seemed to be using all his strength to say, "My niece... Violet, she's dead!"

Chapter 1267

Chapter 1267

Violet's time of death should have been two days ago, according to the police.

She had been staying at a hotel, and two days ago, the housekeeping staff noticed that the "Do Not Disturb" sign was still on her door. This was not unusual, so they did not pay much attention. However, the sign was still there two days later, and the staff became suspicious.

The hotel manager had knocked on the door, but there had been no answer. They then used the master key to open the door and discovered a horrifying scene inside.

"Her body had no external injuries," Fred lowered his voice as he spoke to Zuko and Lina from the police station. "But they found toxins in her blood after the forensic examination..."

"She was poisoned?" Lina found it puzzling. "Has the composition of the toxin been analyzed?"

"It's currently under investigation," Fred replied, leaning against the wall with a heavy heart.

Although Fred was not on good terms with Violet's family, he was still a Grist. He did not want to see his niece die under his nose either.

"Have you checked the surveillance footage? Did anyone go in and out of Violet's room these past few days?" Zuko asked.

Fred replied, "She's been in Centrolis for quite some time. None of us knew she was here. I only found out after investigating the incident at the film studio event." "Could she have committed suicide out of fear after committing the crime?" Lina said softly, "After all, poisoning and endangering public safety are serious charges."

As they had speculated, the police delivered news of the arrest of a suspect in the crime.

Fred, who had anxiously waited for a whole day, perked up. However, the truth stunned him.

According to the police, during the interrogation, the suspect confessed that the Grists had sent him. When questioned about the reason for killing Violet, the person claimed that the Grists didn't want to support a waste anymore.

Fred fell silent.

The suspect's words sounded like something Violet's selfish and overbearing parents would say. The entire family considered the disfigured Violet worse than worthless, and her death was not regrettable. Lina couldn't help but feel skeptical, however.

It was already early morning when they left the police station. The air was cool, and the ground was wet from the rain the night before.

Zuko held Lina tightly, trying to keep her warm.

"What are you thinking?" Zuko asked in a low voice. "Let's have breakfast first."

Lina frowned. "Zuko, don't you find this situation strange?"

Zuko paused.

The whole matter was quite odd. The person who had harmed the celebrities at the party was caught, and the reason for their vomiting and diarrhea was found. Violet's death could be considered a deserved retribution, and even the person who killed her was detained.

In theory, everything had been perfectly resolved.

However, there was still a lingering concern in his heart, as if the true mastermind behind all of this was still lurking.

"What do you find strange?" Zuko asked Lina.

"If the Grists really considered Violet worthless, why didn't they deal with her in Jangasas? Why wait until now to send someone to Centrolis to deal with her?"

Zuko squinted. "So, you think there might be someone else behind this?"

Lina murmured, "The police checked the surveillance footage and found that Violet checked into the hotel before the film studio celebration event. The person arrested claimed to be acting on Violet's instructions. Now Violet is poisoned to death... I keep feeling that there's an invisible connection between these events.

"The key point is the person who brought her to Jangasas!"

Zuko nodded, fully agreeing with Lina's thoughts.

'As for the person who brought Violet to Jangasas...' A thought flashed through Zuko's mind like a bolt of lightning.

Zuko sent Lina home to rest and went to Janine's residence alone.

Janine lived in a villa near the coast. She had been used to being alone, but after meeting Jim, she felt the desire to settle down. She had bought the villa because of its quiet environment, which was perfect fo writing.

Although she and Jim mostly lived in Chaiseland, she enjoyed staying there when they returned for vacation.

Zuko rang the doorbell.

Janine opened the door a moment later and patted her grandson's head. She was happy to see him and was ready to give him some gift money.

Zuko cried helplessly, "Grandma, I'm all grown up!"

"You're still your grandmother's baby grandson, no matter how old you are!" Janine laughed happily. "What brings you to visit me today?"

"I wanted to ask when Grandpa Jim's new work will be released!"

"Still a long way to go!" Janine pouted. "That old man focuses on writing and doesn't care about me when he's busy with his work. He didn't even come with me to Centrolis this time. Hmph! That's fine. I don't care!"

Zuko paused for a moment. "Grandma, do you think Grandpa Jim's new work this time should involve a bizarre murder case?"

"Why? Do you have some material for him?"

"I actually do." Zuko looked at her seriously. "And this material comes from around me. Perhaps... it's related to the people you brought along!"

Chapter 1268

Chapter 1268

Janine, who had been tinkering with the flowerpot, suddenly stopped and turned around to observe Zuko through her glasses.

The once pampered and adored chubby little boy had grown into a resolute, handsome young man. His sculpted face held a hint of defiance, and his gaze showed forbearance similar to Zephyr's. Janine smiled, feeling proud of her grandson, who had a quarter of the Baker's blood in him.

"Come here," Janine waved her hand and sat on the sofa with Zuko. "Tell me what you suspect about Desiree."

Zuko was surprised. He had not mentioned Desiree since Janine arrived. Besides, Janine had brought more people than just Desiree. There were also other members of the Bakers. How did she know? "Surprised?" Janine smiled. "Remember, I'm your grandmother. No matter when, don't think you can hide anything from this old lady!"

"Oh..."

"Still hesitating?"

Zuko sat up straight and smiled. "Grandma, I suspect that everything that's happened recently is related to Desiree."

Janine raised an eyebrow. "Do you have any evidence?"

Zuko was at a loss for words. He did not have evidence but had to voice his doubts.

"Before you brought Desiree to Centrolis, everything here was peaceful. But since she came, the opening ceremony of the Thompson Group's film studio was maliciously affected, causing a bad impact in the entertainment circle.

"Later, the police caught the person who spiked the drinks, and the forensic test of the drinks showed that people from the Grist Group were involved.

"Right at that critical moment, Violet unexpectedly died!"

Zuko furrowed his eyebrows. "Grandma, why did Violet come to Centrolis right before the opening of the Thompson Group's film studio? And why did she die when the truth was about to come to light? I'm afraid someone didn't want her to speak!"

"So, you think this person is Desiree?" Janine asked.

Zuko fell silent for a moment and lowered his head.

"You have a reason to suspect her, and things do seem quite coincidental, happening right after we arrived in Centrolis."

Janine's gaze was complicated. Her presence had not diminished with the passing years. On the contrary, her eyes seemed even sharper than before.

"But you don't have evidence, do you?"

"Grandma..."

"Your doubts must be supported by evidence," Janine said lightly. She got up to fetch a flowerpot and continued to prune the branches.

"Grandma, I can find evidence," Zuko claimed.

"If you were the one doing something bad, would you let others easily find evidence against you?"

Zuko was taken aback. Her statement seemed to make sense.

"By the time you find evidence, the person would've destroyed all traces!" Janine smiled and said, cutting off the excess branches. "Besides, I brought Desiree here. Considering the relationship between the Bakers and the Harpers... Zuko, I can't help you with this!"

Zuko widened his eyes, ready to argue, but Janine suddenly made a 180-degree turn.

"Zuko widened his eyes, ready to argue, but Janine suddenly changed her stance.

"I won't help in this because finding evidence is too troublesome and time-consuming.

"The fact that I won't help in this doesn't mean I won't help in other matters."

Zuko didn't understand. "Grandma, what do you mean?"

"I have another gift for you!"

Janine smiled mysteriously and got up to go back into her room. After a while, she returned and handed a USB flash drive to Zuko.

Chapter 1269

Chapter 1269

Zuko asked, "Is this for me to review later?"

"No need," Janine pointed to the computer. "Just check it here!"

Zuko plugged the USB flash drive into the computer with a puzzled expression and opened it.

The data inside occupied a large part of the memory. At first, he thought they were ordinary reports, but the more he read, the more he sensed something amiss, especially with certain descriptions. Alarmed, Zuko paused, his finger hovering over the mouse. Then, he turned to Janine in surprise.

Janine shook her head and glanced at her watch. "Took you 35 minutes and 20 seconds to react? Pammy would've figured it out in 15 minutes!"

Zuko once again felt insignificant in the family.

He said seriously, "Grandma, are these records of the Harpers embezzling charitable organizations?"

Janine nodded with a solemn expression.

"When did you start investigating them?"

"Well..." Janine thought for a moment, not entirely sure.

Her business acumen was always strong. When she sensed something was amiss, she would immediately start investigating.

The Bakers and Harpers' ancestors had sworn to get along well for generations, but it was clear the Harpers had deviated from the original intent in Desiree's father's generation.

"My father taught me that investment is about discovering good projects, supporting the economy, and promoting the revitalization of the entire country." Janine looked at Zuko seriously. "Even though we're in a foreign country, the core doesn't change. The headquarters of the Baker Group is in Eropah, but we still put our resources into our country to help our nation."

Zuko agreed wholeheartedly. This was also why Janine's investment projects in Centrolis had increased recently.

On the other hand, the Harpers only wanted to amass wealth through venture capital, even taking advantage of charity work.

"Although our ancestors made a covenant, the Bakers have principles!" Janine said seriously. "We won't form an alliance with such greedy and shameless people!"

"Grandma..."

Janine smiled lightly. "The other Bakers are afraid of damaging the relationship between the two families, so they're unwilling to step forward. But I'm different. I believe that the real sinners are those who harm the people's interests, not those who damage the relationship between families.

"If no one dares to confront this festering sore, then I don't mind being that person!"

As Lina analyzed the data all night, she listened to Zuko's admiration for his grandmother. Finally, she glanced at him and asked, "Based on the materials Grandma Janine gave you, where is the welfare home sponsored by the Harpers located?"

Zuko stared at her innocently.

"The first line of the text says it's in Soastal!" Lina sighed helplessly while Zuko chuckled and leaned in with his hand on her shoulder.

"Lina."

"What?"

"It's great to have you."

This statement came straight from the heart, completely sincere.

Lina temporarily forgave him for his silliness and smiled as she asked, "What should we do next?"

Zuko threw the question back at her. "You tell me."

"I wouldn't dare," Lina teased with a changed voice. "Zuko... she's your childhood buddy. How could I dare to mess with her?"

Chapter 1270

Chapter 1270

Zuko was at a loss for words and breathing heavily. Would this ever come to an end with Lina?

"I'm telling you!" He rarely showed a tough side. "Let's be done with this or..."

"What?"

"Or never mind!" Zuko said firmly.

Back in the day, Nicholas knelt on the washboard with the same resolute attitude, didn't he? Now that the washboard had been passed on to Zuko, he wouldn't be as helpless. He couldn't kneel directly on it- he must add a cushion!

Lina was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter, covering her face.

"Alright, back to the main topic," Zuko said, playfully tapping her nose. "I think the next step should be to hand over this data to the police. Embezzlement in charity work is not just a moral issue, it's also a legal

one.

"However, these data only provide evidence of the Harpers' activities in Centrolis. We may need to investigate further to see if they've done similar things in Chaiseland."

"Hand it directly to the police?" Lina asked.

"What else?"

"The Bakers and Harpers have a long-standing relationship," Lina expressed her concerns. "The interests of both families are deeply intertwined and inseparable. If we mishandle this matter, the Harpers might retaliate."

Zuko immediately understood and chuckled with a squint. "If we hand the evidence to the police, the Harpers will hold a grudge against us. But if the police are the ones to investigate first, the situation will be different."

Lina nodded with a smile.

After a few seconds of silence, Zuko messaged Desiree, asking her to visit the welfare home next week. He specifically mentioned they would go to the one her family sponsored so that she wouldn't get the wrong one.

After sending the message, Lina looked at Zuko with a long gaze.

Desiree replied to the message just a few seconds later.

Lina's expression was hard to read. Still, she looked at Zuko with a hint of a smile and jealousy.

"Zuko, you work wonder- Mmph!"

Lina didn't finish her sentence as Zuko kissed her to silence her. He held her tightly in his arms, and she struggled for a moment, but he held her even tighter.

The kiss was overwhelming, and Lina seemed to melt in his embrace.

"Can we get this over with?" he asked.

"Um..."

Zuko smirked. "We'll do it again if we can't!"

A few days later, Zuko met with Desiree at the welfare home in Soastal.

Desiree was quite pleased. He had told her that there's no such thing as pure friendship between men and women, yet he wanted to continue their past relationship.

When she received Zuko's message, she couldn't believe it. She wanted to refuse, but her vanity got the better of her. She agreed without hesitation and even sent Lina a screenshot of their chat. She arrived at the welfare home 15 minutes late today, as she had intended. When she saw Zuko waiting at the entrance, her vanity swelled.

"Zuko!" Desiree ran over, trying to act casual.

She deliberately chose a white dress with elegant style and simple lines, believing it would appeal to men.

However, Zuko only glanced at her and greeted with a smile, "Hello."

"Zuko, what made you think of inviting me here?" she asked.

Zuko glanced at the sign of the welfare home-Soastal Mercy Welfare.

Despite the name, what the Harpers were doing there was far from being merciful.

Zuko suddenly felt that the sign was somewhat ironic. He turned to tell Desiree, "I just thought about it all of a sudden. Your family also has charity work in Centrolis, so I wanted to take a look." "That's right. It's this welfare institution." Desiree smiled and led Zuko inside. "My father's always treated it as a legitimate business and even asked me to take charge of the charity foundation here." Zuko smirked. Of course, they had to manage it properly. This was much better than any legitimate business. Conventional investments had various constraints and required guarding against scheming and deceitful rivals in the business world. The biggest advantage of charity work was having a cover.

Under the guise of charity, they could raise significant funds from the public, and the charity foundation would become the Harpers' hidden treasure trove. Taking this money and engaging in high-interest lending generated a considerable income that flirted with the legal line.

Zuko clenched his fists and said softly, "Actually, there's also an area designated for a welfare institution in the land planning of the Thompson Group's film studio. I came here today to seek your advice on how to manage such things."

"The Thompson Group wants to do charity too?" Desiree's eyes flashed with a strange gleam.

Zuko did not miss any of her subtle movements. He smirked inwardly. Did she think the Thompsons were going to rival the Harpers in business?

"Uncle Nicholas and Aunt Linda are kind people, and they've been doing charity all this time. That's why they kept a piece of land to build a welfare home in this film studio project."

"Pardon me for being so straightforward." Desiree expressed her view. "That plot of land isn't suitable for a welfare home at all."

"Why?"

"Why else?" Desiree smiled. "Mr. Thompson spent a lot of money to obtain the film studio project, didn't he? The land's expensive, and the film studio isn't a project with immediate returns, yet he still wants to go into something non-profit... It's a total loss!

"Zuko, why's Mr. Thompson so silly when he's always been so sharp?"

Zuko glanced at Desiree coldly, and she immediately stopped laughing.

Desiree kept trying to get closer to Zuko as they walked around the courtyard, but he would always quicken his pace or move sideways to avoid her. He would take evasive action whenever their shadows were about to meet on the ground.

This left Desiree with grievances, but she did not dare vent her anger at him.

"Zuko..." Desiree had nothing to say, so she wanted to talk about the venture capital industry. However, several kids suddenly rushed out from the corner before she could start!

The children looked to be around 12 or 13 years old. Their faces looked innocent, but their eyes were filled with a ferocity that contradicted their young age.

"She's from the Harpers, splash her!"

Before Desiree could react, the boys splashed a basin of dirty water over her head each.

"Ah!" The courtyard was filled with Desiree's shrill screams.

The boys dispersed, and there was now something different in Zuko's gaze.