The Old Fox that Joe was speaking of referred to his father, Devore Yves, an influential figure throughout the entire interster alliance.


    But most peoples impression of him was limited to what was written in various articles. Mr Yves always had a modest and unassuming smile, neatly groomed silver hair with a hint of gold that had yet to whiten at its ends.


    Even though he had passed his prime and was entering his twilight years, he still had a gentlemanly manner.


    This temperament was unchanging throughout many generations of the Yves family, so they were well-embraced by the general public.


    The family had their beginnings in manufacturing for the military sector,ter switching to manufacturing for civilian use, then expanding to various other industries. The Yves were always able to smoothly establish new ground, which was in part due to the familys temperament and image.


    And when it came to Young Master Joes generation probably the gics saw an abrupt change


    The elder sister was fierce, the younger brother was a fool.


    However, Mr Yves seldom graced the screen of Young Master Joes smart device.


    In that leaping photo, Yves was sitting in the study, ring straight into the lens and a ss ashtray in his hands, as though he was about to hurl it at the camera the very next second.


    It was a far cry from his usual public persona. No trace of his alleged gentlemanly manner or politeness could be seen.


    A photo like this was obviously the handiwork of Young Master Joe, and it was also only him who could rile the, in popr perception, gentlemanly Mr Yves to such a state.


    Joe flicked air through the hologram, admiring the storm clouding his fathers imposing visage. He snorted and mumbled, His hand probably slipped.


    Then, he unhesitatingly cut off thems request.


    Not taking it? Gu Yan asked.


    No way. His hand must have slipped. Since when has he ever dialled myms in all these years. If he has anything to say, hell get Eunice to convey it. Joe harrumphed. Youre not aware of this but I got scammedst year, that time when he was hospitalised. I thought that it was something serious and picked up his call, but guess what? The moment that Old Fox heard my voice, he went sorry, wrong number and hung up straight away. Would you have put up with it? Anyway, Im not standing for it.


    But right after he finished telling his story, a new iingms request popped up.


    He hadnt changed the privacy settings of his screen and the hologram was stillying t. So, Gu Yan and Yan Suizhi had front-row seats when thems request came up for the second time.


    It was still his stormy-faced father.


    Again? Joes brows lifted.


    The likelihood of his hand slipping twice in a row was too slim. This time, there probably really was something wrong.


    Joe wavered for two seconds before eventually pinching the bridge of his nose, tapping oneptwith a pinched expression.


    Yes? He didnt give a single word of greeting at all, throwing down this sentence immediately after it connected.


    Whatever was happening on the other side, there was a sudden rattling, followed by a womans voice drifting over, muttering something under her breath. Then, she said, Hey!


    Joe balked. Eunice? Youre using Old why didnt you just use your own smart device if youve got something to say? What are you using his for? Afraid that Ill pick up?


    Cw P mgjhs? Llr rlrafg, Seclmf, rjlv, Lf kjr atf bcf ktb mjiifv sbe, yea oiecu atf fjgqlfmf ja wf gluta joafg sbe mfmafv. Rbcrfcrf jrlvf, kfgf cba ublcu ab Ljcplc Xjgvfc Lbafi jcs wbgf.


    Yt, jwfc ab atja. Abf teoofv. Qtja, vlv tf mjii pera rb sbe mjc rjs atlr? Ktf qbilmf tjnf jigfjvs mbgvbcfv atf jgfj, tbk mjc jcsbcf fcafg? Cr lo P cffv tlw ab rqjgf atf ygfjat ab afii wf atlr, frqfmljiis lc remt j gbecvjybea kjs. Qtfgf jgf sbe uesr cbk?


    Eunice said, Were right here at Fa Wang district. We were actually on the way over when we received the news. Old pops was worried about you, so well be staying here for now.


    As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Devore Yves enraged roar indistinctly carried across from the other side. Bullshit!


    Eunice was not in the least bit intimidated by him. She carried on heedlessly, saying to Joe, Dont pay attention to him. He was just uneasy when he heard that it was a homicide and wanted to find an excuse to get on the line with you. Hes been posing for an hour already.


    What nonsense are you spouting! Devore Yves, in a very ungentlemanly fashion, rebuked from the other end.


    Eunice, Tell me which part of it is false. Didnt you also pester me to dial this idiot thest time at Tian Qin?


    Joe, Ms Eunice, Im still listening over here. Cant you watch your vocabry?


    Eunice, Shut up. See youter.


    She seemed to be going in circles with Devore Yves on that side. Yves raged, Stop with that nonsense; hand over the earpiece!


    Toote, Eunice said.


    What did you snatch my smart device for! Yves continued to rattle off.


    The shouting match between father and daughter could be heard loud and clear even without Joe putting it on speaker mode.


    Out of courtesy, Yan Suizhi made a gesture to Joe that he and Gu Yan were going to leave him some space for privacy.


    But Young Master Joe had so little qualms about it that he waved at them, mouthing, Why are you running? You dont have to, its not anything ssified.


    During their conversation, the sharp stato of high heels came crisply through the earpiece, and subsequently the sound of a door being locked.


    Eunice lowered her voice. Enough of that. Be careful at the hotel the Mansons might have been involved in what happened.


    What do you mean by that? How do you know that the Mansons are involved in this? Did you catch any news? Joe asked.


    Gu Yan and Yan Suizhi looked at him.


    No, Eunice said. The police department only told us that something happened over there, revolving around a duty officer in the surveince room, right?


    Yeah, thats right.


    Which is why its odd. Isnt the connection between a duty officer and the Mansons very tenuous? But thats what old pops believes. Eunice paused before saying, I think that we might have misunderstood the rtionship old pops had with the Mansons back then. The past might not be as simple as we think.


    Joepsed into silence. In thest year or so, he would asionally have this niggling feeling that his rtionship with his father wasnt as bad as it seemed, such as just now.


    One part of it was that Yves was gradually distancing himself from the Manson family. Another part of it was Eunice acting as a mediator between them.


    However, any mention rted to the past would bring him a mild sense of distaste.


    Eunice mulled over it, then said, But its also a bit troublesome to dig up all that now. The information is iplete. Trying to evade old pops socialwork is even harder. After all, the people responsible for handling these cases arent simple to deal with.


    Joe clutched his hair, instinctively repulsed by the subject. He hummed vaguely from his throat.


    He had mixed feelings about what Eunice had said.


    On one hand, it would be awesome if the decade-long conjectures he held against his father were just a misunderstanding. He would even look forward to it.


    On the other hand, he was worried that the results of what he found would end up being the final nail in the coffin.


    There are also other outsiders involved, Joe wilfully added.


    But, right after those words were spoken, he wanted to bite off his tongue, for those words really sounded too much like rallying words of encouragement.


    Sure enough, Eunice was waiting for this attitude from him.


    She immediately said, Yeah, there are a few peripheral cases where the ones who handled them werewyers, judges, and police, all of whom might not necessarily be tied to the crazy socialite circle. However


    Eunice was stuck in a dilemma. It is challenging to differentiate those who truly have no ties to them from those that are only faking it.


    Due to the influence of their family name, it was usually easier for the Yves to do what others would struggle with. Information came more readily, and it was simpler for them to look into certain matters. Where others would waste decades to graze the fringe, they could start right from the heart of it.


    But at some times, it was also because of their intertwined family connections that they would be stopped in their tracks, having more fetters on them than normal people would. Ultimately, they would have to resort to approaching people outside of these connections for assistance.


    Eh? Oh, right, what about Gu? Hes awyer, and one of the rare ones that we can trust, at that. Do you want to Eunice said.


    Joe:I have threewyers right in front of me right now, and Id trust any one of them with my life.


    He nced at the three people on the sofas.


    Honestly though, when it came to matters like this, he didnt want to implicate people he cared about. It would be best if they didnt even touch it with a finger, lest something sullied their hands, affecting their rtionship.


    But


    But it was equally bad to leave his friends in the dark without a single mention as well.


    Young Master Joe felt that half his brain was getting tangled. He really wasnt good at analysing knotty problems that required careful deliberation. His idle hands scrubbed his face out of shape. He is a few years younger than me. He hasnte across many of these before.


    Then do you know any older ones? Eunice asked.


    She released a remorseful sigh.


    What are you sighing about? Joes expression was dead.


    I just thought of someone. If he was still around, I could ask him, Eunice said.


    Who?


    The former dean of yourw school, Eunice said.


    Joe was slightly taken aback. Youre friends with him? Why didnt I know this?


    Oh pur-lease, do I have to report to you the people I meet every day? Besides, werent youpletely repelled by anything rted to family politics? How the hell would you know! Eunice swore at him then said, Not exactly friends. Its just that we had some contact during those corporate events, but Im rather sure that he has nothing to do with the Manson crowd. And it was only just a few months ago that I found out that a case he worked on back in the day is actually rted to some of those things


    Joe nked out. Which case?


    Its one from pretty early on. A medical case, Eunice said.


    A medical case?


    Joe took a moment to process. He was neither aw school masochist nor the bitter victim of a ten-year secret crush. So, he didnt know the specifics of Yan Suizhis life story. Most of what he heard was from Gu Yan.


    But from the little that he was aware of, he did have an impression of a medical case Wasnt the analysis that Gu Yan scrapped after a month of working on it precisely a medical case?


    As he sieved through his mind, Eunice spoke up again. Forget it. Theres no point talking about this; that guys gone already.


    Joe,


    Erm, sis have you ever heard of resurrection?


    Both Yan Suizhi and Gu Yan didnt have any perverse interest in eavesdropping on someones conversation with their family.


    Even if the Mansons were involved, they could still ask Joe about it once the call ended. Therefore, when Eunice softened her voice, Gu Yan and Yan Suizhi had consciously shut their ears.


    At this time, their attention was more focused on the picture of Devore Yves about to throw the ashtray.


    Because they noticed a very interesting ornament in the corner of Devore Yves desk


    An ornament in the shape of a Clubs ying card suit.


    What do you think? Yan Suizhi prodded Gu Yans fingers, asking in a low voice.


    Gu Yan nced at those frisky fingertips. Mn. Ill askter.


    With that, they lifted their heads and found that Young Master Joe had finished his call. He had yet to remove his earpiece, but he was staring uncannily at Yan Suizhi, this gaze carrying hesitance, anticipation, conflict, and cowardice. Exactly like he was doing his utmost to keep his tongue in check.


    Yan Suizhi, ?


    Lawyer Gu, ???