Chapter 49: Clearing the Suspicion

"But even if you have the disposable gloves Shao Zihan discarded, that still can't clear you of suspicion," Director Lin said, his mind sharp. "Gloves alone aren't enough to be definitive evidence..."

"Exactly. The real task is to find that prop knife she threw away," Lian Youyou replied. "Such things are hard to destroy completely. Burning won't erase it, and flushing it down the toilet would clog the pipes. If she tossed it straight into a trash bin like the gloves, it could easily be found. But since there are cameras all over the set, she couldn't just throw it anywhere. So I suspect she must have hidden the knife somewhere and is waiting for a chance to take it out once she leaves the set. Next, the police should search Shao Zihan's residence and the places she frequents. Don't forget to bring sniffer dogs—it’s quite likely she buried it."

Director Lin couldn't help but chuckle, "Youyou, you're so clever. Why didn't you mention sending your assistant to look for evidence yesterday? That way you wouldn't have had to spend the night in the detention center."

He himself had been summoned from the provincial public security bureau by Mr. Lu because of this...

Lian Youyou shrugged, "Because last night, I wasn't sure if my assistant could find the evidence so quickly."

Besides, the two police officers last night seemed so strict, there was no way they'd let her have her phone. So she couldn't check if Coco had messaged her...

...

Just as Lian Youyou had predicted, after the police moved out, they found the prop knife wrapped in a black plastic bag, hidden among other garbage beneath the hotel’s rear building.

Shao Zihan had tried to cover her tracks by wiping the fingerprints off the prop knife, but in her nervousness, she overlooked that her fingerprints were all over the pile of discarded trash.

"Miss Lian, please take care!"

At last, her name was cleared, and she walked out, innocent and free.

This time, through her own efforts, she turned the situation around!

Qiao Jing, radiant in a fiery red dress, and Coco, in a simple, elegant suit, waited outside the police station, craning their necks in anticipation for her release.

Besides them, a crowd of media had gathered.

"Youyou! I was scared to death!" Qiao Jing dashed over and hugged Lian Youyou tightly, almost knocking her off her feet. "How does filming a drama turn into such a mess! If you need money, why not work for my company? Why bother being an entertainer, the entertainment industry is a treacherous place!"

Lian Youyou patted her back to comfort her, "Alright, alright, everything’s fine now."

Coco stood nearby, tears streaming down her face, "Thank goodness you’re okay, Youyou..."

"Thank you, Coco! Without you, I might have been stuck here for who knows how many more days." Lian Youyou hugged Coco as well. "You did an outstanding job!"

"I didn't do anything special. I just followed your instructions and found the evidence," Coco said. "And Brother Yuanye was very worried about you, Youyou. He wanted to record a video to clear your name himself, but his agent wouldn't let him. His social media is run by his team, so he can't post himself. He secretly recorded one and sent it to me on WeChat, asking me to post it for him."

"..."

It was time to check on Yuanye soon.

As she stepped out of the detention center, snow began to fall, tiny flakes drifting down onto Lian Youyou’s hair.

Coco retrieved the red cape she had brought ahead of time and draped it over her shoulders.

Lian Youyou had barely taken a step forward before the media surged around her, blocking her path completely.

"Miss Lian Youyou, please tell us how you’re feeling right now!"

"What are your thoughts on being framed?"

"Miss Lian Youyou, is it true, as rumors say, that you have romantic feelings for Mr. Yuanye?"

"Miss Lian, who was the person who framed you?"

Romantic feelings for Yuanye...?

Lian Youyou looked up at the snowy sky. With her vintage cape and flawless features, she looked like a figure from a painting.

Her gaze was distant, tinged with melancholy as she spoke, "If someone truly loves another, how could they ever want to harm them?"

Her eyes lingered on a solitary figure standing apart from the crowd.

Lu Ming watched her from afar, a faint smile on his lips. Snowflakes had settled on his soft hair and the shoulders of his trench coat.

A police car roared up, stopping outside the detention center. Two officers escorted Shao Zihan from the vehicle, one on each side.

"Lian Youyou, you framed me!" Shao Zihan, still defiant, shouted, "You had someone plant that prop knife in my room, didn’t you? You framed me! May you never rest in peace!"

Qiao Jing curled her lips in disgust. "Why does this woman keep barking like a mad dog?"

Lian Youyou pressed her lips into a thin line, her gaze cold as she looked at the disgraced woman before her.

As Shao Zihan was led past, Lian Youyou leaned in close and whispered, "Someone put you up to this, didn’t they?"

Shao Zihan’s eyes widened in shock. "You... what are you talking about..."

Lian Youyou straightened, arms crossed, a contemptuous smile on her face. "This scheme is beyond your intelligence. Take my advice: confess to the police and you’ll get leniency. Resist and it will be worse for you. The charges against you are not light—don’t think you can shoulder them alone."

"Lian Youyou! May you die!" Shao Zihan, enraged, struggled to attack Lian Youyou, but the police held her fast. "You’re a scheming woman, you joined the crew with backing, cozying up to a rich patron, a kept woman—filthy, disgusting!"

Shao Zihan turned to the media, shouting, "Reporters, listen up! This Lian Youyou didn’t win the endorsement for ‘Legend of the Rivers and Lakes’ or the second female lead in ‘Dezhao Legacy’ through talent. She’s being kept, she bought her way into the cast!"

"That rich patron is me!" Qiao Jing declared, wrapping her arm affectionately around Lian Youyou. "I’m the one supporting Youyou, so what? But buying her way into the cast—that’s nonsense. I care so much for my Youyou, I didn’t even want her in entertainment. She insisted on earning it herself, so what could I do?"

Shao Zihan was still unwilling to give up. "Lian Youyou, you will never have a good end, you’ll die young just like your mother..."

Her words, spoken in haste, caught the attention of the media, always eager for a scandal.

"Miss Shao, what did you just say? Die young?"

"The cause of death of the legendary actress Lian Meng remains mysterious. Many refuse to believe she died merely in childbirth. Miss Shao, can you share what you know?"

"Miss Shao..."

Coco glared at Shao Zihan, who hung her head, and demanded sharply, "Speak up! You claim to know everything, so say it!"

Lian Youyou ignored the media, slipping away from the tumult with Qiao Jing and Coco protecting her.

By the roadside, a familiar red Bentley caught Lian Youyou’s eye.

Was it Fan Chi’s car?

Ah, so even they had come.

Lian Youyou had a pretty good idea now whose orders Shao Zihan was following. After all, she only had one family of enemies.

Outside the parking lot, Qiao Jing’s extended Rolls-Royce stood out.

The driver got out and opened the door for Qiao Jing, who said, "Youyou, come home with me for a meal, let me welcome you back."

"No need," Lian Youyou replied with a bright smile, looking at Lu Ming as he approached. "I’m going to my Little Prince’s home."

Qiao Jing clutched her jaw, feigning pain. "Oh, my teeth ache from all this sweetness. ‘Little Prince’—she’s even using that term now."

The phrase ‘Little Prince’ was how Lian Meng described Lu Ming the first time they met.

A pure, beautiful prince, untouched by the world, straight out of a fairy tale.

Coco, stunned by Lu Ming’s stunning looks, stared for ages before finally exclaiming, "Is this your boyfriend, Youyou? Which agency is he with? My god, how did I not know before—he’s so handsome, if he isn’t famous, it’s a crime! Should we sign him for our Xin Cheng?"

"My dear assistant, Youyou’s boyfriend is much more than an entertainer. He’s a PhD from MIT, good looks and brains," Qiao Jing said proudly—more proud than even Lian Youyou herself.

Without waiting for Lu Ming to approach, Lian Youyou bounded over, rising on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck. "Lu Lu..."

"Not for kids, not for kids!" Qiao Jing grabbed Coco, who was still gawking at the couple, "Come on, assistant, let’s go to my place for a feast. Food is ready, don’t let it go to waste!"

"Can I really go?" Coco, knowing Qiao Jing was the heiress of the Qiao family, was overwhelmed by the invitation. "Are you sure?"

"Of course." Qiao Jing ushered Coco into her family’s Rolls-Royce.

Lian Youyou nestled her face in Lu Ming’s embrace, greedily inhaling the woody scent of his cologne.

Lu Ming slipped his hand under her hood, gently tousling her hair. "My Youyou is amazing, solving everything with her own abilities."

"Stop touching!" Lian Youyou pulled the hood tight with both hands. "I haven’t washed my hair in two days, it’s greasy!"

"It is a bit oily."

...

In the bathroom, steam filled the air. Lian Youyou lay in the bathtub, wrapped in a robe, her head resting on the edge.

Outside the tub, Lu Ming sat with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. In front of him was a basin propped up on a stool; he was washing Lian Youyou’s hair.

"I'm so happy," Lian Youyou said, her face radiating contentment. Lu Ming thoughtfully placed a towel under her neck. "Lu Lu, you know, only when I was little did my grandmother and mother wash my hair for me. After I grew up, no one ever did it again."