48: I'll come in and steal a few!

Ye Chen's heart suddenly leaped. The feeling of guilt from being caught red-handed crept over his body, making his scalp tingle... Bing Lan crossed her arms and stared coldly at Ye Chen: "What are you doing here?"

She wasn't pretending to sleep; she was just overly sensitive to the movements around her.

The moment the closet door opened, she woke up.

Then, realizing that only she and Ye Chen were in the villa, she got up to check... Facing Bing Lan's icy gaze, Ye Chen's brain started spinning rapidly again.

In a flash.

Thinking quickly, he forced a rogue smile onto his face, his eyes darting evasively over the surrounding lingerie.

"I... I came to steal a few..."

The words sounded preposterous even to himself.

Bing Lan's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

"Steal that stuff?"

"Ye Chen, do you take me for a three-year-old, or do you think... I look like an idiot?"

Naturally, she didn't believe Ye Chen was the type of vulgar man with such a peculiar fetish.

This was just desperate nonsense, meant only to conceal his true purpose.

Ye Chen rubbed his nose, knowing the excuse couldn't be any worse.

He knew a verbal explanation wouldn't get him off the hook.

He decided to bite the bullet and commit to the "rascal" act, reaching out and haphazardly grabbing a black lace item from the display rack next to him, stuffing it into his trousers without even looking.

The movement... was so fast it created a gust of wind.

Afterward, he stuck out his neck, feigning arrogance: "See, I already got it!"

Bing Lan: "..."

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly, and her chest rose and fell slightly.

"Ye Chen!"

"I'm giving you one last chance."

"If you don't give me a reasonable explanation today..."

"I will call the police immediately."

"And have you go in and explain everything clearly."

She keenly sensed that Ye Chen was hiding something very important.

This thought wrapped around her heart like a vine, making her feel both disappointed and vigilant... Ye Chen was helpless.

He knew that if he continued to mess around, things would only get worse.

He took a deep breath, deciding to reveal the truth.

"Alright, Miss Bing."

"Now that things have come to this, I really shouldn't keep hiding things from you."

His gaze became frank, "My approach to you wasn't accidental, nor was it... entirely because of Jin Meiting."

Bing Lan was expressionless: "Continue."

"I have an uncle named Yi Zhengtian. He was once an undercover anti-drug police officer."

Ye Chen spoke slowly, word by word.

"Seven years ago, he and his partner carried out an undercover mission, infiltrating Zheng Hu's criminal organization."

"Although they successfully obtained key evidence, they were betrayed just as they were preparing to close the net, resulting in a car accident."

"Uncle Yi became a vegetable, and I only recently managed to wake him up."

"And his partner... died on the spot."

Bing Lan's pupils contracted slightly.

Before she could speak.

Ye Chen already provided the answer: "You should have guessed it. His partner was your father, Wang Feng. He didn't disappear; he... heroically sacrificed himself in that car accident."

"Wh... what?"

Bing Lan looked as if she had been struck by lightning. Her delicate body swayed violently, and her face instantly turned pale.

She had always believed her father had just irresponsibly abandoned her and her mother and disappeared.

This obsession supported her efforts to become better, hoping that one day he would see it, and she could confront him face-to-face!

But now, Ye Chen was telling her that her father hadn't disappeared—he had sacrificed himself?

And that he was a great... anti-drug hero?!

"No... you're lying to me..." She subconsciously shook her head, tears uncontrollably pouring from her eyes, "If that were true, Li Yao couldn't possibly have found no clues!"

That's right, she had once asked Li Yao to investigate!

She even pulled strings and utilized a huge network of connections.

But there were no clues... Ye Chen shook his head: "Back then, they operated on a single line of contact, and the informants all had accidents. There was practically no one left who knew they were undercover!"

Bing Lan's face instantly went pale.

Ye Chen felt reluctance, but he steeled his heart and continued.

"I am also not Jin Meiting's Younger Male Cousin."

"She found me and threatened the people close to me, forcing me to approach you and become your man."

"But I didn't agree, and I never intended to harm you."

"I entered your closet precisely to find the evidence that could take down Zheng Hu, avenge your father and Uncle Yi, and protect my loved ones!"

Having finished speaking.

He opened his palm, revealing the small, black USB drive.

"This is the evidence your father desperately protected back then."

"He hid it inside the doll he gave you for your birthday."

Bing Lan's gaze was fixed on the USB drive, and tears streamed down like broken pearls.

Father... that figure who had gradually blurred in her memory, the "missing" father she had resented for years... It turned out he had been protecting her in another way all along?

The doll she had always cherished actually contained the truth her father had exchanged his life for?

Shock!

Grief!

It was like a tsunami engulfing her, making her nearly unable to stand steady.

Ye Chen was quick and agile, stepping forward to steady her.

Bing Lan suddenly snapped out of it and struggled fiercely: "Let go of me! You liar... you've been lying to me all this time!"

"Yes, I admit I lied to you!"

Ye Chen tightened his arms, pulling her into his embrace, "But I never wanted to hurt you, and I certainly didn't want to drag you into this dangerous vortex. I just wanted to get the evidence, take down Zheng Hu, and let everything settle!"

"Get out! Get out of here right now!"

Bing Lan pointed toward the door, her voice trembling, "I don't want to see you again! Get out!!!"

Ye Chen fell silent.

He knew any explanation right now would be futile, and it was better to let Bing Lan calm down alone.

"Fine, I'll go." He let go of her hand and whispered, "You... take care."

After speaking.

He turned and left the closet, then left the villa.

The night wind was slightly cool, blowing across his face.

Ye Chen got into the car, looked at the black lace item he had swiped sitting on the passenger seat, and rubbed his temples with a bitter smile.

He then carelessly stuffed the black lace into the storage compartment and started the car.

The deadline set by Zheng Hu was getting closer and closer.

He had to process the evidence in his hand quickly. This was not only the key to taking down Zheng Hu, but also... the only way to ensure everyone's safety... Inside the villa, silence returned.

Bing Lan leaned against the closet door, slowly sliding down to sit on the floor, tears silently flowing down the face that drove countless men wild.

The truth of her father's sacrifice, Ye Chen's approach, Jin Meiting's schemes... too much information hammered at her heart like ice picks!

But ultimately, she was Bing Lan.

She was the woman who could bravely retreat from the peak of the entertainment industry and single-handedly build the Shu Yue empire in the business world.

Soon.

She gradually calmed down.

She wasn't stupid.

Her earlier rage and expulsion were not entirely out of control.

Although Ye Chen's confession was cruel, it resolved the long-standing knot in her heart and allowed her to see the enormous crisis lurking beside her.

Zheng Hu... the behemoth entrenched in the shadows of Xiamen City, was actually the culprit who killed her father!

And Jin Meiting, the woman she considered her best friend and whose background she even pitied, had painstakingly sent Ye Chen, this "chess piece," to her side?

She drove Ye Chen away partly because she felt betrayed and needed an outlet.

On the other hand... it was also a form of protection.

Before clarifying who was friend and who was foe, letting Ye Chen, this "variable," leave the center of the vortex was better for everyone.

But she couldn't just sit back and wait for death.

Bing Lan wiped the tear stains from her face with the back of her hand, and her eyes regained their coldness.

She needed answers.

Right now!

She took out her phone and dialed a number.

The call connected quickly, and Jin Meiting's languid voice came through.

"Oh, my dear Lan Lan? Missing me this late?"

Bing Lan spoke calmly: "Want to go out for a drink?"

"Looks like Lan Lan has something on her mind." Jin Meiting chuckled, "You pick the spot!"

"Black Rose Bar."

"Alright, I'll be right there~"

Hanging up the phone, Bing Lan stood up, quickly changed into a black pantsuit, tied up her long hair, grabbed her car keys, and headed straight for the garage.

Soon, a red Ferrari drove out of Number One Courtyard and merged into the city traffic.

She was going to confront that "best friend," personally tear off the disguise, and uncover all the truth!

However.

What Bing Lan didn't notice was... after she left, a car model silently followed her.

Inside the car.

Ye Chen wore a helpless expression.

He had indeed left earlier, but he returned because he was worried.

Sure enough, he happened to catch Bing Lan driving out.

"This woman..."

Ye Chen sighed. He had to ensure her safety... At the Black Rose Bar, the music was deafening.

Figures twisted wildly on the dance floor, and the air was thick with the scent of alcohol and hormones.

But Bing Lan's appearance was like a block of ice dropped into boiling water, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Ignoring all the stares, she walked straight toward the bar's most luxurious circular booth.

"Open a table."

A Black Card was placed on the server's tray.

A gasp immediately sounded around them.

That booth had a minimum charge of one million!

To sit there without batting an eye, this stunning beauty was not only rich but likely had an unfathomable background.

Several men who had been eager to approach her weighed their wallets and courage, ultimately backing off, only daring to gaze from afar at this cold and glamorous sight.

Bing Lan ordered a bottle of strong liquor and poured drinks for herself.

Before long, there was another commotion at the bar entrance.

Jin Meiting had arrived.

She was still full of allure, her tight red dress outlining a breathtaking silhouette.

Everywhere she went, men's eyes were practically glued to her, yet no one dared to approach.

Because many people recognized her... Zheng Hu's woman!

In this territory of Xiamen City, no one dared to easily provoke this "Tiger" entrenched in the underground, let alone touch his woman.

Jin Meiting swayed her hips and arrived at Bing Lan's booth.

Then.

Her backside settled, and she sat down elegantly.

She smiled charmingly, her red lips parting slightly: "Lan Lan, you usually don't come to places like this. Is it because... my little Younger Male Cousin made you angry?"

Bing Lan did not reply.

Her response to Jin Meiting was grabbing the freshly poured whiskey.

And then.

Under the shocked! stunned! and disbelieving gazes of countless people, she flicked her wrist... The liquor, mixed with ice cubes, was violently splashed onto Jin Meiting's charming face!

The alluring beauty instantly turned into a soaking wet mess...