"Mr. Lu, the driver who escaped has been apprehended and is being interrogated at the police station," Cheng Jue said when Lu Yanbei was peeling grapes for Su He.
Lu Yanbei dropped the grape skins and calmly got up and went to the balcony. "What have they found out?"
"He's being tight-lipped and hasn't said a word since he was caught. There was a recent unexplained remittance to his bank card, so he was likely bribed," Cheng Jue replied nervously.
"Does he have any family?" Lu Yanbei asked, glancing back, unhurriedly.
"His parents died young. He has an older sister who married out of town a few years ago and they don't keep in touch. He was married once, divorced five years ago, no children. He lives alone in a rented apartment, occasionally taking odd jobs, with no formal employment," Cheng Jue recalled, his memory as sharp as ever.
"Have his call and social media chat records been checked?"
"His phone is clean, but the police are trying to recover data, which will take some time."
Lu Yanbei nodded. "Find out where he's been recently and who he's been in contact with."
"We've checked. He usually hangs out with his workmates playing cards. The most frequent places he visited were the mahjong parlors near his apartment complex," Cheng Jue reported. "Oh, right. He's also been to a few foot massage centers lately."
Lu Yanbei tapped his fingers twice on the railing. "Keep digging. The more detail, the better."
"Yes, sir."
After a pause, Lu Yanbei commanded, "Contact Rong Qiao. Tell her I want to see her."
Cheng Jue blinked, taking a moment to remember who Rong Qiao was.
But, was this really a good idea?
If the boss's wife found out, she might get jealous.
However, these were not his concerns, so he agreed.
The courtyard was filled with laughter, unaffected by anything.
Su He had had a bit to drink, her cheeks slightly flushed. She sat in a rattan chair, propping her head up, listening with keen interest to Lei Ting and the others recount their childhood anecdotes.
When Lu Yanbei returned, he was carrying a dessert, a flavor Su He particularly liked.
"Yan Ge, you're so biased! Only one piece!" Gu Yuheng pouted as he spotted the small cake in Lu Yanbei's hand.
"If you want one, go get it yourself. You have legs, don't you?" Lu Yanbei retorted unceremoniously.
Gu Yuheng rubbed his nose. "I'm a guest, after all..."
Lu Yanbei couldn't be bothered to entertain him.
He knew Gu Yuheng was just joking. Men generally found such things too cloying and wouldn't touch them. Besides, Gu Yuheng was allergic to cream.
Su He, on the other hand, felt a little embarrassed.
As the hostess, she hadn't fulfilled her duties of hospitality, which seemed remiss. So, she was about to offer her cake to Gu Yuheng. "You have this one, and I'll get some more."
"Sister-in-law, Ah Heng was just messing around. He doesn't eat that stuff," He Shufan scoffed at Gu Yuheng.
Lu Yanbei pulled Su He back.
How dare he make his wife run errands? Was he asking for a beating?
With a sharp glance, Gu Yuheng immediately became subdued.
"Ahem, Sister-in-law, I was just joking with Yan Ge."
Su He looked at Lu Yanbei questioningly, as if seeking confirmation.
Lu Yanbei speared a small piece of cake with his fork and put it into her mouth, answering her unspoken question with his actions. "Don't mind him."
The few men, force-fed a bowl of PDA, had varied expressions.
He Shufan: After marrying, Yan Ge is becoming increasingly abnormal!
Lei Ting: +1, I suspect Yan Ge has been possessed!
Gu Yuheng: Sigh, married men are different! Seeing this makes me want to find a woman too!
He Shufan: With so many women flocking around you, what else do you need?
Gu Yuheng: Those women are too playful, not suitable for marriage!
He Shufan: As if you don't like to play! The pot calling the kettle black!
Gu Yuheng: I'm a man, it's not the same, is it?
Lei Ting: Let's leave soon. We shouldn't disturb them!
He Shufan: Agreed!
Gu Yuheng: My friend just opened a new bar, want to check it out?
He Shufan: I have something to do.
Gu Yuheng: What could you possibly be doing?
He Shufan: My mom asked me to pick her up.
Gu Yuheng: Lei Ting, what about you?
Lei Ting: I won't go. Too noisy!
Gu Yuheng: So unsupportive! Are we still brothers?
The group was in the midst of a lively chat in their new group chat when they heard Lu Yanbei say, "Want to play cards?"
The three of them refused in unison.
"Don't want to!"
"No!"
"Not interested!"
Su He had been quite enjoying playing lately and was looking forward to showing off her skills. But then, they didn't want to play?
"Why not?" she asked, frowning with curiosity.
"You'll have to ask Yan Ge!" Gu Yuheng replied aggrievedly. Because with Lu Yanbei around, they never stood a chance of winning; they always lost everything!
A lesson learned from bitter experience!
The best course of action was not to play!
Lu Yanbei raised his eyelids but didn't force the issue.
"Um, my mom just messaged, asking me to pick her up from the beauty salon," He Shufan said, standing up and breaking the awkward silence.
"I suddenly remembered I have a game of basketball scheduled," Gu Yuheng followed suit.
Lei Ting was a beat slower. "My, my dad wants me home early."
Seeing their tact, Lu Yanbei's lips curved into a pleased smile. "Sister Li, please see our guests out."
So unceremonious!
Gu Yuheng and the other two were clearly used to it and didn't find anything amiss. They gradually drove off in their luxury cars. Before leaving, they didn't forget to invite the couple to visit their homes.
The Lu, Gu, Lei, and He families were old friends, maintaining close ties and looking out for each other, a rarity in the increasingly competitive high society.
Su He and Lu Yanbei saw them off at the door, only returning inside after the various luxury cars had disappeared into the distance.
Su He had had quite a bit to drink, her head feeling fuzzy, her eyes showing a hint of confusion.
Lu Yanbei knew she was drunk and helped her back to the room to rest.
"A'yan, lie with me for a bit," Su He tugged at his sleeve, stopping him from leaving.
Lu Yanbei let out a soft laugh. "You invited me yourself..."
With that, he began to undress.
"We're just sleeping, why are you taking off your clothes?" Su He asked, opening her eyes groggily.
"How can we sleep without taking off our clothes?"
Su He covered her face, her cheeks burning red.
Why did it seem like the words she said turned into verbs when he said them? He was too good at misinterpreting her intentions!
Unfortunately, it was too late for her to refuse.
When Su He was drunk, she was exceptionally obedient; she would agree to whatever he said.
Ever since Lu Yanbei discovered this characteristic of hers, he had taken advantage of it from time to time to gain benefits for himself.
He had been busy investigating the killer recently and hadn't been able to properly fulfill his marital duties. Having been starved for a long time, he naturally intended to make up for it with interest!