"If you're set on going up, I wouldn't dare stop you."
The woman in black stockings gave a polite smile. "I just need to look like I tried to."
She was only a store manager — not someone who could afford to offend a young master from one of the city's major conglomerates, especially one with a reputation for having a temper.
"Don't worry," Xu Mu said lightly. "The person upstairs is a friend of mine."
With that, he and Meng Wanyue walked upstairs together.
Meeting Shingū Fuka
Inside a private room upstairs, Shingū Fuka sat elegantly on the sofa, savoring tea.
When she saw Xu Mu walk in, her eyes flickered with faint surprise.
"Forgive the unannounced visit," Xu Mu said, taking a seat across from her.
Fuka only glanced up briefly before half-closing her eyes again. "What do you want?"
"First of all, to thank you," Xu Mu said with a smile. "Your warning yesterday helped me prepare."
"No need for thanks," she said coolly. "It was a small thing. If that's all, you may leave."
"There's something else."
Xu Mu opened his chat with Jiang Huihui and tapped on a photo of a car she'd sent him earlier.
He placed his phone on the table and slid it over.
"This car — it's yours, isn't it?"
Fuka looked and nodded slightly. "Yes. It belongs to this branch."
"There should be a dashcam, right?" Xu Mu smiled. "Your car witnessed a minor accident this morning. I just want to see the footage — to get to the truth."
He didn't mention Zhao Yingying's name, keeping his tone neutral.
"I'm not sure," Fuka replied calmly. "I didn't take the car this morning. But I'll ask."
She sent a message on her phone, then looked back up at him.
"Have we met before?"
"Yesterday at the hotel?" he guessed.
"No, earlier than that," Fuka said, shaking her head.
"Oh right — in front of a company," Xu Mu said with a grin. "I thought you looked familiar."
"I remember now," she said. "It was at the Muyue Group. I saw you chatting quite happily with the security guard. You two know each other?"
Xu Mu chuckled — so she was probing.
"Yeah, we're close. Known each other for a long time. Why?"
"Nothing."
Fuka gave him a long, thoughtful look.
So her suspicion was right — that stoic, murderous Zhang Que actually smiled at this man. Their relationship clearly wasn't ordinary.
Moments later, her phone buzzed.
"The driver confirmed it," Fuka said. "He saw a girl on an e-bike hit an elderly man this morning. The dashcam caught it. He's bringing the car back now."
"Thank you," Xu Mu said sincerely.
If the footage showed Zhao Yingying braking, it could prove the collision was accidental — not intentional. That would mean a lighter sentence.
About half an hour later, the driver returned, and under Fuka's guidance, Xu Mu obtained the recording.
He smiled. "I'm Xu Mu. Once this is resolved, dinner's on me."
"I'm Shingū Fuka."
"Oh? You're from the island nation?" Xu Mu asked, feigning surprise — though the Divine Eye had already told him as much.
"That's right. Why?"
"Nothing. I just happen to like your country's films," he said with a teasing grin, waving goodbye as he and Meng Wanyue left.
The Dashcam Evidence
Back in the van, Xu Mu opened the exported footage.
He fast-forwarded to the critical moment.
There — Zhao Yingying could clearly be seen braking.
When the brakes failed, she even slammed both feet on the ground to stop the bike — but still collided with the old man.
He replayed it several times, then handed the phone to Meng Wanyue.
"Wanyue, take a look. What do you think?"
After studying the screen, she said, "Manager Xu, that old man's behavior looks suspicious. It's almost like he deliberately stepped in front of her."
Xu Mu nodded. "I saw that too. He looked up three times before the impact."
"But that alone won't hold as evidence," Meng Wanyue said.
"True. Anything else?"
She rewound again, her sharp assassin's instincts catching a detail.
"Here," she said, pointing at the screen. "This delivery guy waiting at the red light — his helmet has a camera on it."
Xu Mu's eyes lit up. "Right. That's the first intersection leaving the old district — the red lasts ninety seconds. If we can get his footage, we'll know exactly what happened."
The video clearly captured the courier's face, giving Xu Mu a lead.
He immediately set his contacts to locate the man, confident it wouldn't take long.
Then he told Meng Wanyue to return to her training. "You'll need your strength soon," he said quietly.
A Desperate Call
Meanwhile, Li Yun sat at home, nerves shredded.
She had cried out to Heaven and Earth, but no one answered.
At last, she removed Fang Chu's number from her block list and called him — he was her only hope now.
"Auntie, what's wrong?" Fang Chu's tone was gentle, almost rehearsed.
"Xiao Fang, did you talk to him? What did he say?" she asked anxiously.
"I did," he said smoothly. "They've already left the police station. But… it's not looking good. The man's attitude was very firm."
Li Yun's heart dropped. "Xiao Fang, please — I'm begging you! No matter what you want, I'll do it!"
"Auntie," Fang Chu replied with mock sincerity, "with those words, I'll do everything I can."
Then he hung up.
Li Yun stayed by the phone, waiting in torment.
As the hours dragged on, she called again.
"Xiao Fang, how did it go?"
A long sigh came through the speaker.
"Don't sigh like that! Tell me!" she cried, face pale.
"I'll send you our chat screenshots," Fang Chu said. "See for yourself — that man's being unreasonable. Sigh…"
He sent the images over.
When Li Yun opened them, her face twisted with anger.
That man's words were utterly heartless.
TN: I almost want to drop it because of these chapter with Li Yun, maybe because i as Translator know the story and look it as observer beyond story, how the hell it wasn't so sus