Siheyuan came through and sent Jia Zhang to prison

Jiang Hu, being a straightforward man, knew that denying it was useless, so he simply admitted everything. He wasn't afraid anymore, since he had already arranged with Zhang Jie to send his wife and children to relatives in the countryside, and he had left them some money, enough for them to live on. Even if he was caught, at least his family would be safe.

The entire night passed slowly under the lights of the interrogation room. When the first rays of sunlight shone through the windows into the police station building, all of Jiang Hu and Zhang Jie's men had confessed and signed their confessions, and the list of those involved and their networks of relationships had been largely clarified.

He Feng rubbed his throbbing temples, his eyes bloodshot. He told Zhao Lei to organize the statement, then leaned back in his chair, trying to doze off. He hadn't slept a wink all night; even the strongest person couldn't withstand that. But as soon as he closed his eyes, the image of that pearl flickered in his mind again—the case wouldn't be truly closed until the mole was found.

Just then, Ma Xin walked in, arriving on time for work. Her high heels clicked softly on the terrazzo floor. She carried an oil-paper bag containing freshly bought meat buns, which she was taking small bites of, a few drops of oil glistening on her lips. He Feng's lingering worry was drawn to Ma Xin's wrist—the translucent white jade bead was still there, the red string binding her slender wrist. The bead swayed gently as she wiped her mouth, gleaming warmly in the morning light, yet it made He Feng's heart tighten inexplicably. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward.

He Feng's gaze almost unconsciously lingered on Ma Xin's wrist, his eyes brimming with undisguised scrutiny, as if he wanted to see a hole through the jade bead. Ma Xin wasn't stupid; she naturally understood what he was up to, but she pretended not to notice, took another bite of her meat bun, and asked indistinctly, "He Feng, you... didn't go home to rest all night, did you? You have dark circles under your eyes, like a panda."

He Feng hummed in agreement, his gaze still fixed on the jade bead—it was still there. He reasoned that if Ma Xin were truly involved in last night's events, she would have immediately tried to dispose of this suspicious item—throwing it away, hiding it—rather than wearing it openly in public. But now… the bead remained safely on her wrist, as if mocking his overthinking.

Seeing that he was only staring at her hands without even lifting his eyelids, Ma Xin deliberately frowned and pretended not to know anything: "He Feng, why are you staring at my hands? Do you have flour on them or oil on them?" As she spoke, she raised her hand and examined it carefully in the light. Her fingertips ran across the surface of the jade bead, which shone with a soft halo in the morning light, looking like a real rare object.

He Feng seemed to snap out of his daze, coughed lightly, looked away, and followed up on her words, asking, "Nothing, it's just that your jade beads are quite unique. They don't look like they were bought from an ordinary store. Are they easy to buy?"

Ma Xin shook her head, her tone casual as if she were remarking on the nice weather, and replied nonchalantly, "These jade beads are hard to find. I heard they were specially commissioned, and there's only one of each kind. I only have this one, so I have to be very careful with it, afraid of bumping or scratching it. If it falls, it'll be a real hassle." As she spoke, she deliberately rubbed the bead between her thumb and forefinger, her fingertips caressing the cool jade surface, her expression one of cherishing it as if it were some rare treasure.

He Feng nodded, his initial suspicion deflated like a punctured balloon. It seemed the person who tampered with the documents in the office last night wasn't Ma Xin. Not only was the jade bead still on her wrist, but Ma Xin's slender arms and legs, and her soft voice, suggested she lacked the strength to move, let alone steal the documents right under his nose without leaving a trace.

He breathed a sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxed a bit, and his tone softened: "It's nothing, I just thought the style was nice and wanted to ask where I could buy one. If it's convenient, I'll also get one for my family."

Ma Xin shook her head again, a touch of melancholy in her eyes, as if she had remembered something unpleasant: "I don't know, after all, she bought it for me." She deliberately emphasized the word "she," with a slight rise in her voice at the end, as if subtly reminding someone of something.

He Feng's heart skipped a beat, as if he had grasped the key point, and he quickly asked, "Then... she's the one who gave you the jade bead, has she come back to find you?"

Ma Xin knew she had achieved the desired effect, but her face still held a distant indifference, as if mentioning that person made her feel uncomfortable: "He Feng, you know we had a huge fight last time. We argued until we were red in the face and said the most hurtful things, and we almost came to blows. Even if she really comes, she won't talk to me. She'll probably point her finger at me and yell at me, saying I'm ungrateful."

He Feng believed her and nodded, his tone becoming serious, with a hint of caution: "You have to be careful lately. If she really contacts you, no matter what she says or does, you have to keep her calm and don't get into a conflict with her. Get the message to me immediately. I'll take some men and arrest her to prevent her from causing any more trouble outside, understand?"

Ma Xin nodded vigorously, her face showing a sincere "don't worry" expression, her eyes clear: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Since we're no longer on the same path, I know what's important and what's not. I definitely won't cause you any trouble, and I certainly won't get myself involved."

Seeing her confident and honest demeanor, He Feng's last remaining doubts vanished, and he felt completely at ease. He nodded and turned to walk back to his workstation. Ma Xin watched his retreating figure, a barely perceptible smile curving her lips, so quick it was almost an illusion. She lowered her head, her fingertips gently caressing the jade beads on her wrist. The cool touch traveled from her fingertips, and a complex light flashed in her eyes—a mixture of triumph, calculation, and a weariness she herself didn't even realize.

He Feng held the transparent evidence bag between his fingers. The jade bead inside, illuminated by the light, gleamed with a cold luster due to its fine texture, as if it concealed some unknown secret. He stared at the jade bead for a long time, and the guess that had been swirling in his mind for so long finally settled down like dust—all the clues pointed in the same direction, there was no mistake.

Just then, the office door was gently pushed open, casting a faint shadow. Zhao Lei walked in, looking as if most of his strength had been drained away. His face was etched with unconcealable exhaustion, and the dark circles under his eyes were particularly noticeable under the incandescent light, as if they had been smeared with ink.