"His skills are incredible!" Luo Manman exclaimed as she watched Chen Yang.

Xiao Shuo'e quickly dragged Luo Manman aside and scoffed, "He's just an ex-soldier, nothing special! Don't you dare fall for a guy like that!"

"Right, why did Wang Qingze's attitude change so suddenly?" Xiao Shuo'e asked Chen Yang.

"None of your business."

"You..." Xiao Shuo'e's face turned ashen with frustration, unable to utter another word. She turned to Luo Sulan and said, "Look at his manners! Does he have no class at all?"

"I reserve my manners for actual people, not for... other things," Chen Yang retorted with a grin.

Xiao Shuo'e: "..."

"My guess is that Wang Qingze must have run into something urgent, so he had to leave in a hurry! You just got lucky. What gives you the right to be so smug in front of us?"

Luo Sujuan sneered, "You're quite arrogant today. Just wait until Wang Qingze is free to deal with you!"

"Sister, you don't need to worry too much! I happen to know Wang Qiliang's father. I'll explain to him personally tomorrow that Chen Yang has nothing to do with the Qin Family. He'll surely understand!"

Luo Sujuan's words were like a tranquilizer for Luo Sulan. Greatly relieved, she pointed at Chen Yang and snapped, "Get out of my sight! Just looking at you is irritating!"

Luo Gang was mostly unhurt. He sat for a moment to recover, and once he'd regained his composure, he joined in on the verbal assault against Chen Yang.

"A rash, brainless person like him is a walking disaster. He thoroughly offended Wang Qingze today. I'd like to see what kind of terrible end he meets! We should get him out of here as soon as possible, before he drags down the Qin Family!"

Luo Gang adopted a superior air and then pointed at Xiang Yang. "Look at Xiang Yang. Not only is he steady and mature, but he's also nearly perfect in every way! That's how a young man should be!"

"Exactly! The more I see of Xiang Yang, the more I like him! If I had a daughter, I would definitely marry her to him!"

"Ah! It's a pity Xiaoqiu is like a fresh flower stuck in mud!"

The group took turns speaking, not naming anyone directly yet demeaning Chen Yang until he seemed worse than worthless. Xiang Yang, on the other hand, was portrayed as the very epitome of the perfect man.

"Uncle, Aunt, Auntie, you flatter me," Xiang Yang said modestly, waving his hand. "I have a bottle of good wine in my room. I'll go get it now!"

With that, he headed upstairs.

Chen Yang's gaze followed him, a glint in his eyes.

"Chen Yang, come with me," Qin Qiu called out, striding outside.

"Sure thing!"

Outside the villa, the chilly wind whistled, biting to the bone.

"Chen Yang, how did you make Wang Qingze yield?"

Qin Qiu stared intently at Chen Yang. She didn't buy Luo Sujuan's explanation from earlier. Besides, things like this had happened several times before—could it always be just luck? She wasn't a fool.

Fortunately, Chen Yang had already prepared an excuse, which he promptly rattled off. "I know some people in the Martial Department's Patrol and Arrest Team, so I had a friend spread a rumor that someone was arrogantly throwing around the name of that Sixth Grade Military General from the Zhou Family."

"So, that Military General must have been the one who called Wang Qingze and told him to back off."

Qin Qiu raised an eyebrow, responding skeptically, "You're that clever?"

"My dear, your husband has many strengths. You'll discover them all eventually," Chen Yang said playfully.

"And those fireworks? How do you explain those?"

Chen Yang scratched his head. "My dear, those were knock-off Four-foot Jades. They didn't cost much."

"Knock-offs?" Qin Qiu was stunned. A dark expression crossed her face as she processed that he had actually gotten her counterfeit items.

Chen Yang ducked his head slightly and whispered, "My dear, if I'm not mistaken, Xiang Yang has probably gone to your room to steal that document. With so many people here and all the chaos, it's the perfect opportunity."

The color drained from Qin Qiu's face, and she was about to run back into the villa, but Chen Yang stopped her.

"What are you doing? What if you're right and he gets away with it?" Qin Qiu asked anxiously.

"If you go up now, you'll only tip him off. He'll just make up some excuse to clear his name."

"Then... what should we do?" Panic clouded her judgment, and she was starting to lose her composure.

"Did you set up that miniature camera I gave you the other day?"

Qin Qiu nodded.

"Then it's fine. I'll check the camera footage after he comes out."

"He definitely won't turn on the lights. Will it be able to record clearly in the dark?" Qin Qiu voiced her concern.

Chen Yang grinned. "Don't worry, it's military-grade."

When they returned to the living room, Xiang Yang had already come downstairs and placed a bottle of red wine on the table.

"Is this Royal Salute? Jeez, this must be worth tens of thousands, right?" Luo Gang exclaimed in awe.

"Brother, you clearly don't know your stuff. A vintage Royal Salute like this would be several times that price! I'd only ever heard of it before, but today I finally get to taste it!" Luo Sujuan's eyes gleamed, her satisfaction with Xiang Yang growing.

"So young and talented! Xiang Yang, your future is limitless!"

"Of course! I have a keen eye; when have I ever been wrong about someone?" Luo Sulan took Xiang Yang's arm affectionately. Just then, she saw Chen Yang walk in, and her smile instantly vanished. "Unlike some useless people who are good for nothing but causing trouble," she said coldly. "The very sight of them is disgusting."

"Sister, if you know he's useless, then let's not mention him. It will only spoil the mood," Luo Sujuan said, raising her voice an octave, making sure Chen Yang could hear.

"Come, come! Let's open the wine. The first glass must be a toast to Xiang Yang! If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be drinking something so fine!" Luo Gang gestured magnanimously. "As for certain useless people, they're naturally not worthy of tasting this wine."

Chen Yang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. A worthless bottle of wine, and they're treating it like a treasure? They all act so sophisticated, but at heart, they're just a bunch of country bumpkins!

Qin Qiu headed straight upstairs.

Seeing this, Xiang Yang, who was in the middle of opening the wine, suddenly tensed and called out, "Xiaoqiu, where are you going? Let's eat first. The food is getting cold!"

"I just remembered there's a document I haven't annotated yet. You all eat first, I'll be right down," Qin Qiu said.

Chen Yang watched him closely. Even though Xiang Yang was good at hiding his emotions, Chen Yang caught the subtle shift in his expression.

He's definitely guilty!

A moment later, Qin Qiu came rushing out of her room. "My safe was opened!" she said in a panic. "And the most important document is missing!"

"What? We've been robbed?"

"That's impossible. No one has left the house today. How could a thief get in?"

"There's only one possibility—a thief from within!"

After a moment of chatter, all eyes turned to Chen Yang. Their gazes were filled with interrogation, suspicion, and even certainty.

"Why me?" Chen Yang said, holding up his hands. "It could have been Wang Qingze's men. Maybe they created a diversion to steal it, right?"

"Xiang Yang, everyone says you're brilliant. Why don't you analyze the situation? Tell us if I'm right."

Xiang Yang was startled for a moment before nodding repeatedly. "That is indeed a possibility!"

"But it doesn't matter. There's surveillance footage. We just need to check it to see who the thief is."

Xiang Yang: "..."

"..."

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