1
After filing a police report, giving a statement, and staying up all night guarding Ruyi and their daughter, Qin Guan hadn't slept a wink.
Of course, he never mentioned the suitcase delivered the previous day to the police. He simply dismissed the vandalism as "a reckless attack by delinquent teens."
"There's a bar across the street. Late at night, some drunk kids must've been looking to vent," Qin Guan explained. "I recently handled a case involving their friend. They probably targeted me for revenge."
He insisted on dropping charges: "Let it go. Young people make mistakes when they're drunk. Who hasn't messed up in their youth? It's just a door and a window—no need to escalate things."
The property security praised his "generosity," unaware he was hiding the blackmail. He couldn't risk arousing Ruyi or the nanny's suspicions.
By dawn, workers replaced the shattered glass and installed a new door.
"See, Ruyi? It's over. I'll protect you and Xiao Lizi," he said at breakfast, holding her trembling hand. Her pale face and exhausted eyes betrayed her sleepless night.
"Everything's fine now," he reassured her with his signature warm, trustworthy smile—the same one that had convinced her father to entrust him with his only daughter years ago.
2
But Qin Guan knew the crisis was far from over.
The blackmailer had sent a new suitcase, stolen 300,000 yuan, and remained a ghost. Their motives and demands were unclear.
Qin Guan wasn't naive. This meticulous operator wouldn't settle for a mere 300,000. Bigger moves were coming.
He had to find them immediately—before losing control.
Parking outside his law firm, he pulled out the Chunli Cleaning badge. The middle-aged woman who took the money was likely a cleaner, but not the mastermind.
The puppet master knew Qi Min, his career, his family, his weaknesses. Only one suspect fit: Li Yang.
3
Speak of the devil.
Qin Guan hadn't expected to find Li Yang at his office—accompanied by police.
The once-polished pretty boy now looked haggard: hollow cheeks, unshaven, bloodshot eyes, greasy hair. His oversized plaid shirt hung limply.
"I flew to that city! She's gone!" Li Yang ranted, glaring at Qin Guan. "No one's seen her at the bar she posted about! No calls, no videos—just texts! She's missing!"
Qin Guan remained expressionless. He'd been using Qi Min's phone to send messages, feign a breakup, and demand money—details Li Yang's pride would never let him admit.
"Li Yang found no trace of Qi Min in your business trip city," the officer said coldly. Qin Guan couldn't gauge how much they knew. "We need to revisit some details, Lawyer Qin."
4
Handling police questioning wasn't difficult for Qin Guan. He'd rehearsed his alibi the day he returned.
But sitting across from the stone-faced officers, his heart pounded—the suitcase, the midnight vandal screaming his name, the woman fleeing with the cash… Each detail sliced through his once-flawless facade.
Li Yang's presence amplified the tension. Seated behind the police, the man's bloodshot eyes clawed at Qin Guan's chest, as if digging out every buried secret.
After the grueling interrogation, Qin Guan spent the day distracted, making uncharacteristic mistakes. He left work early, claiming an urgent matter.
He'd secretly hired a private investigator—a shady collaborator from past cases—to tail Li Yang.
"The idiot's telling the truth," the PI reported at their rendezvous, handing over photos. "Fired from the garage after a fight. Now he's either harassing the police or getting wasted at night. His landlord confirms he smashes things drunk."
5
The previous night, Li Yang had drowned himself in alcohol from dusk till midnight.
A drunken wreck like him couldn't have orchestrated the blackmail. He was a hopeless loser, flailing after losing his meal ticket.
Dismissing Li Yang, Qin Guan focused on his sole lead: Chunli Cleaning.
The company had thousands of employees. Finding one middle-aged woman was like hunting a raindrop in the ocean.
After three fruitless branch visits, Qin Guan arrived at the fifth location near a bustling market by 6 PM.
6
Pretending to browse housekeepers upstairs, he scanned employee profiles—all ordinary faces.
"My cousin recommended an auntie," he lied to the manager, gesturing height. "Thin, maybe quitting or on leave…"
"No one's taken time off this week," the manager insisted.
As Qin Guan prepared to leave, he spotted a lanky youth lounging outside.
Orange waist bag.
7
The courier who'd delivered the suitcase!
Qin Guan charged downstairs.
The youth bolted, but Qin Guan cornered him in an alley. Grabbing his collar, Qin Guan hissed, "Who sent you? Spit it out! Or I'll drag you to the cops!"
"Not me! I didn't take anything!" the boy whimpered, squirming as onlookers gathered.
"Who ordered the suitcase?!" Qin Guan roared, raising a fist.
"What suitcase?!"
The youth broke free as a food cart passed. Qin Guan gave chase through winding alleys until—
"Qin Guan? What are you doing?"
He froze.
Standing before him was Xu Ruyi, her pale face etched with confusion.