Regarding Andrew George Armani Burberry Paige's first mission as a private detective, Yuan Ge offered his support.
Liu Yaozong sat excitedly in the car, "Don't worry, Niangniang, I've got this! I can't guarantee anything else, but when it comes to small-time characters, I'll handle them perfectly! I'll make sure they blend into any crowd so no one can spot them!"
Xia Weiliang appraised him from head to toe, still not entirely at ease, "He can get lost, but you can't."
Liu Yaozong narrowed his eyes, striking a pose, "No problem!"
Soon, the little beetle drove off.
Song Yuan looked at her, "Are you sure he'll be alright?"
Xia Weiliang said seriously, "Apart from the mission itself, he's got no problem!"
So it went for several days until Liu Yaozong finally brought good news.
"Niangniang! I've got something!"
"Speak!"
Xia Weiliang, not even bothering to finish her makeup backstage, looked at him with wide eyes, her face half-done, "Did you catch the guy?"
"Of course, absolutely!"
Liu Yaozong took a sip of water and said, "I've got photos. These people here, the place he met them was practically in the middle of nowhere! If there was nothing shady going on, why would he go to feed the mosquitoes?"
Xia Weiliang looked at the photos and immediately called Xiao Yi, "Prepare to make your move!"
So, Xiao Yi took action that afternoon.
A week later, Lin Guanyan was "escorted" into the old mansion and made to kneel on the ground.
Xiao Deye sat in the main seat, his face stern, but his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at the man before him, "Old Lin, you've truly lost your mind!"
"Master..."
Before Lin Guanyan could even beg for mercy, Xiao Yi shot him a look. Xiao Yu, receiving the cue, immediately grabbed tape and sealed his mouth shut.
"Mmph!"
Lin Guanyan was filled with resentment, glaring fiercely at the two brothers of the Xiao family.
If it weren't for them, how could he have been caught?
Xiao Deye stood up and walked before him, his voice laced with pain, "Old Lin, tell me, after all these years I've entrusted you with the Xiao family's affairs, how have I treated you?"
"Mmph mmph..."
"Not going to say? Fine, let me ask you again! Have I cut off your income, or has something I've done wronged you? To put me in such a precarious position?"
"Mmph mmph!"
"Nothing to say, then? Alright, let me ask you this: your two daughters, I've treated them like my own granddaughters! I even intended to marry them off to my grandsons! I ask you, have I ever looked down on them for being the butler's daughters?"
"Mmmph..."
"Old Lin, you've truly chilled my heart! All these years, I've been nurturing a tiger in my own home!"
"..."
Lin Guanyan simply knelt on the ground, lowering his head and remaining silent.
What else could he say?
What could he say!
Xiao Deye was truly furious. He walked around Lin Guanyan with his cane, recounting from how he first chose him from the factory, to paying off his debts, getting him married, and even arranging for his daughters' overseas studies...
The old man spoke with great animation, occasionally scolding him for his ingratitude.
Xiao Yu, having arranged to meet Song Yuan, kept checking his watch. He quietly leaned over to his fourth brother and asked, "How much longer will Grandpa keep talking? Why not just 'take care of' the guy and be done with it!"
"Almost done. Grandpa has covered the first twenty-five years, and there are about six or seven more years to go."
"..."
Xiao Yu looked up at the sky in speechlessness. But if the grandfather didn't finish his lecture, he wouldn't dare to leave!
One mistake, and he'd have to return to inherit the family business!
In any case, whoever wanted to inherit that mess could have it; it certainly wouldn't fall to him!
Xiao Deye cursed for a good half-hour without taking a breath, leaving Lin Guanyan exhausted and dejected on the ground, his head drooping, his mouth sealed, making it impossible for him to speak in his own defense.
Finally, Xiao Deye reached yesterday's events.
"Yesterday, you said there was an emergency back home, so I specifically approved a week of paid leave for you! And that's after taxes! What more could you ask for? And yet, and yet, you were planning to run! Old Lin, tell me, how could you betray my trust?!"
Lin Guanyan looked at him helplessly, then shook his head.
Fine, he was unfaithful.
It didn't matter anymore.
Let everything be destroyed.
Just when they thought Grandpa's lecture was nearing its end, and they could quickly get to the punishment for Lin Guanyan and disperse to their own affairs as everyone was quite busy.
Who, could have imagined!!
"Dad!"
At the cry of "Dad," Lin Suixiang and Lin Youyou rushed in one after another.
The two of them immediately knelt beside Lin Guanyan and began crying piteously to Xiao Deye.
"Grandpa, please don't blame Dad, he's doing it all for us..."
Upon seeing his daughters, Lin Guanyan's eyes rekindled with hope. He even started crying with muffled sounds, his expression filled with guilt, as if he had let his daughters down.
Xiao Yi curled his lips, a trace of mockery escaping.
Uncle Lin should have been the one in the entertainment industry.
Lin Suixiang, a doctor, immediately went to check on Lin Guanyan, "Dad, how are you? Are you injured anywhere?"
Lin Youyou stood to the side, looking as if she had suffered great injustice, tears streaming down her face, "Dad! It's all our fault, you took such risks for us! We've caused your downfall, if Grandpa wants to blame someone, let him blame us!"
Unable to speak, Lin Guanyan could only make muffled sounds.
Seeing this, Lin Suixiang quickly turned to Xiao Deye, "Grandpa, can you please remove the tape from Dad's mouth? You should at least hear Dad's explanation, you can't just let others accuse him wrongly."
Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow, and Xiao Yu also wore a displeased expression.
What did that mean, were he and his fourth brother considered outsiders?
Then who was family? Were these two sisters of the Xiao family, from different mothers but the same father, considered family?
Xiao Deye heard this and shot a displeased glance at the two sisters, "Outsiders? Which outsiders? Fourth? Or Sixth? Or perhaps Seventh?"
Lin Suixiang froze, only then realizing her misstep, and immediately apologized, "Grandpa, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean that..."
If it were before, Xiao Deye might have shown some leniency, but after hearing about Lin Guanyan's actions, he had already declared that no pleas would be accepted!
The old man sat down, glanced at the two sisters, and said unhurriedly, "You two don't need to call me Grandpa anymore. Your surname is Lin, and you are not my Xiao family descendants. Calling me Grandpa would be misleading."
Seeing this, Xiao Yu clicked his tongue and shook his head, "Uncle Lin really has no hope this time."
Xiao Yi casually lowered his eyebrows, sipping the freshly brewed tea.
Grandpa's tea here was priceless; he never compromised on his own comfort.
As soon as it touched his lips, his expression changed slightly.
It was indeed quite good.
He then called someone over and whispered a few words.
Soon, someone arrived carrying a bag of tea...
Xiao Yu was almost stunned, "Fourth Brother, since when did you develop the habit of taking what you eat?"
"Just now. It mainly depends on the value of the item."
Xiao Yu gave a thumbs-up, genuinely impressed, "I admire you!"