Chapter 105: Holmes

Just as Xia Kelan was pondering how to diffuse this awkward situation, Xie Cheng's phone suddenly rang. He slipped off his gloves, rose, and walked toward the corner of the room, seemingly intent on avoiding everyone. Whatever was said on the other end, he responded with two brief murmurs. Then, turning to Fu Liangmu, he said, "Brother, I have something I need your help with." Without a word, Fu Liangmu stood up, his expression darkening as he strode toward the exit. Xie Cheng smiled faintly and said, "Take your time eating; I'll settle the bill with Liangmu later."

Everything happened so abruptly, barely a minute passing by. Xia Kelan muttered, "My LV bag..." Only the closing door of the private room answered her. Originally, this was a golden opportunity for Fu Ziyang. But seeing Xia Kelan's watchful gaze fixed on him, he quietly got up. "Well, I'll be leaving too."

"Hey, hey, fresh meat, don't go!" The group of five instantly dwindled to just two.

"What on earth is going on? Wanwan, don't you think these people are a bit… strange?" Su Wanwan sipped her drink calmly, her tone even.

"They've always been odd, especially Fu Liangmu." Xia Kelan's inquisitive expression immediately tensed.

"What have you noticed?" Su Wanwan put down her chopsticks. "Let's talk somewhere else."

"Alright."

The two drove back to Xia Kelan's home. Upon entering the living room, Xia Kelan bustled off to the kitchen, washing a pile of fruit and cutting it into a platter. She then pulled out a huge box of snacks from under the coffee table and promptly ordered two milk teas for delivery.

Having completed these preparations, she nervously watched Su Wanwan, barely daring to breathe.

Tense, fast-paced music played in the air; the pounding rhythm quickened their heartbeats by a few beats. The strings in their minds stretched taut, as if ready to snap at any moment.

Su Wanwan was momentarily speechless. "Can you turn off this horror movie soundtrack?"

"Isn't it creepy at night?" Xia Kelan scrambled to shut off the music, chuckling sheepishly.

"No wonder the atmosphere felt so weird…"

"Ahem, back to the point."

"You've been married to Fu Liangmu for so long—what exactly have you discovered?" Su Wanwan leisurely tore open a bag of chips, crunching audibly.

"He's often mysteriously absent, always seems so busy."

"And he's frequently seen with Xie Cheng." Xia Kelan rubbed her chin thoughtfully, then suddenly realized something.

"You mean..."

Su Wanwan nodded solemnly.

"They're involved?!"

Su Wanwan: "..."

"Oh my god, I get it now!" Xia Kelan slapped her thigh, her eyes gleaming brightly.

"I've been wondering why Xie Cheng, clearly your paramour, always gives me the impression that you two are distant."

"And he often insists I'm overthinking, that he has no interest in you!"

"Now I understand—he doesn't like you; he's clearly into Fu Liangmu!"

"To secure a legitimate reason to stay close to Fu Liangmu, he purposely got close to you so the three of you are constantly bound together."

"I see..."

"Yes, exactly!"

"I'm just too brilliant!"

"From now on, call me Holmes—Kelan!"

Su Wanwan was stunned. Which asylum accidentally released her? She quietly set down the snacks and grabbed her bag.

"I think I better leave now."

Xia Kelan grabbed her wrist eagerly, her gossiping spirit ablaze.

"No, tell me more!"

Su Wanwan frowned, flicking her temple lightly with her thumb and middle finger.

"I used to think acting suited you, but now I see that's an insult to your talents."

"Why not write a novel? I'll definitely help you promote it."

Xia Kelan blushed.

"You're annoying. Did I guess wrong?"

Su Wanwan sighed deeply.

"What I mean is, since Fu Liangmu and Xie Cheng's movements are so mysterious, perhaps we should start by investigating Xie Cheng; maybe we'll uncover something."

Xia Kelan nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. Anything else?"

"Fu Liangmu seems to have an extraordinary sensitivity to darkness."

"Hm?"

"This isn't something an ordinary person could do—he can precisely locate me in the dark."

This had happened multiple times, ever since the night she first arrived at the Fu residence, and again when she confronted Fu Liangmu about his cufflinks.

Xia Kelan pondered deeply. "Are you saying... he's some kind of immortal?"

Su Wanwan let out a bitter sigh, stuck somewhere between hope and disbelief.

"What I mean is, he might have undergone unusual training, which explains his acute sensitivity to darkness."

"Well, you're lucky."

Su Wanwan closed her eyes, exhaling deeply.

"Why?"

"No need to worry about mosquito bites in summer! If a mosquito buzzes near your ear, he won't even need to turn on the light—just two swift snaps and it's dead."

Xia Kelan tilted her head, wearing a 'See, doesn't that make sense?' expression, leaving Su Wanwan speechless. She felt her biggest mistake was discussing such serious matters with Xia Kelan—after all, her mind was dominated by nothing but games and men.

"You're right. It's late. I should go."

Su Wanwan said, striding out of the villa in long, decisive steps, unwilling to stay another minute.

Once in the car, she slipped on her Bluetooth headset and slammed on the accelerator. The car sped away wildly.

The call connected quickly.

"Hey, Wanwan darling, what's up with the second brother\~?"

"When are you calling Kelan back?"

On the wide road, only this car raced forward. The dim interior light cast shadows across Su Wanwan's face, revealing her helplessness.

"Did she make you mad?"

In Luo Qingyan's voice was a hint of amusement.

Anger, not quite. Just a slight difficulty in communication.

"Tell me when."

Sensing the chill in Su Wanwan's tone, Luo Qingyan dropped the playful manner.

"Isn't it fine that she's there with you?"

"When you decided to return to the Su family four years ago, Kelan cried and begged, insisting for so long that the family head finally couldn't bear it and reluctantly agreed to let her come."

Su Wanwan was silent.

"Wanwan darling, Kelan's going there wasn't solely my decision."

"You know well the family head has never liked her."

"If it weren't for you, she would never have been allowed to stay with us."

"Kelan told me when she left America that you protected her for sixteen years."

"Now, it's time for her to protect you."

Su Wanwan slammed on the brakes, the sudden sound piercing the empty night.