Chapter 321 The Labyrinth
"Don't speak too fast, laugh naturally, and walk slowly. Remember, you're not that girl from the Fu family carrying a secret anymore; you're just a friend here to have fun."
After she finished speaking, she paused and added, "If you hear the footsteps of a stranger, or smell smoke or alcohol, immediately say that you have a stomachache and need to go home to rest—no matter how much the other party tries to persuade you to stay, you cannot stay for even a minute longer."
Fu Maihe took a deep breath and grinned: "What are you afraid of? I'm a member of the Fu family."
She straightened her back, a hint of stubbornness and pride flashing in her eyes.
When he uttered those words, he carried a youthful arrogance, as if it were a form of self-encouragement.
She looked up at the small Western-style building standing in the sunlight. Although her heart was still beating rapidly, it had been replaced by a strange sense of determination.
She patted her chest lightly, as if trying to suppress her unease completely, and teased, "I've even climbed over the wall to peek at my cousin practicing swordsmanship since I was a kid, so what's a little fear of entering a study? Besides, in which generation of our Fu family has anyone ever backed down in the face of battle?"
Fu Lian patted her on the shoulder: "I've arranged for people to be around your house. If something happens and you can't get away, be sure to contact me immediately!"
His palms were broad and strong; that pat was both a sign of trust in his sister and a silent form of support.
He spoke with a serious expression, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing through the warm afternoon sun and reaching straight to the heart.
"The communicator is hidden in your hair clip. Press the pearl on the left three times to send a distress signal, and we will arrive within five minutes."
He paused, his tone becoming even lower, "Don't be reckless. The mission is important, but your life is more important. Getting out alive is more important than anything else."
She nodded earnestly: "Brother, I know, I will be careful."
Fu Maihe looked into her brother's eyes and nodded heavily.
Her eyes were a little hot, but she didn't let her emotions show.
At this moment, she was no longer the little girl who needed protection, but a warrior with a mission.
She gripped the USB drive tightly in her palm, feeling the cold touch of the metal, as if it were the last rope connecting her to the truth.
She silently recited her action plan in her mind: first, go inside and exchange pleasantries, then make an excuse to go upstairs and try to enter the study on the third floor alone.
In just ten minutes, we might be able to obtain crucial evidence.
The Zheng family's three-story villa, with its white walls and red tiles, gleamed brightly in the sunlight.
This European-style villa stands quietly amidst the green trees, its red roof tiles gleaming slightly in the sunlight, like a castle from a fairy tale.
The exterior walls are painted with milky white paint, which looks a bit old after years of wear, but the overall appearance is still clean and presentable.
Two rows of neatly trimmed holly trees stand in front of the gate, with a stone-paved path leading to the black solid wood gate.
Several pots of blooming jasmine flowers hung on the second-floor balcony, their fragrance faintly wafting in the air.
However, beneath this tranquil elegance, Fu Maihe felt a subtle sense of oppression—this was not only a friend's home, but also a hiding place for certain shady deals.
Fu Maihe stood at the door, composed herself, and pressed the doorbell.
Her finger hovered over the button for half a second, as if making final mental preparations.
Then, a crisp "ding-dong" sound rang out, breaking the silence in the courtyard.
She tilted her head slightly, looking towards the second-floor window to confirm that the curtains were still drawn and no one was watching.
Then, she adjusted her breathing, making herself appear calm and composed, and that familiar smile returned to her lips.
The wind lifted the hem of her skirt, bringing a touch of coolness and dispelling the last trace of hesitation.
She told herself: Right now, I'm just here to visit Xiaowen's friend.
"Wheat!"
A clear voice called out from inside, and the door creaked open.
With a cheerful shout, the wooden door was pushed open forcefully, causing dust to fall from the door frame.
A figure rushed out, bringing with it overwhelming enthusiasm and energy.
Before Fu Maihe could react, she was tightly embraced by a pair of warm arms.
The force was so great that she staggered, but she quickly regained her balance, hugged him back, and a genuine smile appeared on her face.
A girl with a ponytail and a round face rushed up and hugged her tightly: "You've finally come!"
Zheng Xiaowen was wearing pink loungewear, her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes were curved into crescents.
She held Fu Maihe's hand and shook it up and down, expressing her joy without any restraint, just like when she was a child.
"I've been waiting all morning! If you don't come soon, I'm going to call and urge you!"
As she spoke, she took a few steps back, looking Fu Maihe up and down. "Oh my, you look so beautiful today! This dress really suits your skin tone!"
Fu Maihe suppressed her wildly beating heart and forced a familiar smile: "Missed me?"
She tried to keep her tone light and cheerful, and even deliberately raised her eyebrows and smiled, attempting to hide her nervousness.
Just a moment ago, her heart almost burst out of her chest—because through the crack in the door, she glimpsed a document on the coffee table in the living room, with the words "City West Plot Planning" faintly visible on the cover.
That was one of the last projects my uncle handled before he disappeared.
But she couldn't show any sign of anything amiss, so she could only feign curiosity and look around, replying, "I've missed you so much! Do you expect me to write you a letter to confess my feelings?"
"Absolutely!"
Zheng Xiaowen pulled her inside, saying, "My dad just bought an old record player, so we can listen to Teresa Teng now!"
She enthusiastically pulled Fu Maihe through the entrance hall, chattering incessantly as she walked, introducing the machine she had found at the antique market.
"It's an original product from the 1970s, the sound quality is exceptionally pure. My dad said he even went out of his way to find a lot of old records to match it!"
As she spoke, she turned on the wooden-cased record player in the center of the living room, gently lowered the stylus, and Teresa Teng's sweet and gentle voice flowed throughout the room, "Small town stories abound, full of joy and happiness..."
She followed her best friend through the hall, her eyes secretly scanning every decoration and every corner.
Fu Maihe smiled and agreed on the surface, listening to the music and moving forward in time, but in reality, every nerve in his body was working at full capacity.
Her peripheral vision quickly swept over the safe next to the sofa, the security camera at the corner of the stairs, the family photo on the wall, and a map hanging at the end of the corridor—it was the urban new district construction plan.
She pinched herself lightly with her fingers to remind herself to stay alert.
Everything here seems warm and ordinary, yet it reveals hidden information everywhere, like a meticulously arranged maze.
"Your parents aren't home?"
She asked casually.
As she spoke, she took the juice Zheng Xiaowen offered and took a sip to hide her stiff movements.
The question was asked in a casual tone, as naturally as if it were just a casual mention of the weather.
She even smiled and added, "I was hoping to say hello to my uncle and aunt."
"He went to a meeting."
Zheng Xiaowen rolled her eyes. "My dad's been so busy lately, I haven't seen him at all."
She pouted, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction, "I'm either on business trips or working overtime all the time, and we've barely eaten together more than a few times. My mom doesn't have time to take care of me either; she's busy with her foundation's activities every day."
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