Chapter Seventeen: Favorable Conditions

Du Zhiye only found out that Tao Ranming had publicly announced their breakup when Feng Bing called her.

"You and Tao Ranming broke up?"

Du Zhiye had told Feng Bing about Tao Ranming's infidelity. At the time, Feng Bing asked if she would break up with him, but Du Zhiye didn't answer. Just a few days later, Tao Ranming made it official on his social media.

Du Zhiye was taken aback and then asked, "Who told you that?"

Feng Bing explained that Tao Ranming had posted it on his feed.

After hanging up, Du Zhiye checked Tao Ranming's post herself. She couldn't quite put her feelings into words. Was she angry? Not really. But saying she wasn't upset at all would have been a lie. That strange feeling lingered with her all afternoon.

Later in the evening, Du Zhiye called Feng Bing, asking her to gather a few girlfriends for drinks—her treat—to celebrate her return to singlehood.

Feng Bing, ever the social butterfly, quickly rounded up more than a dozen friends.

By the time Du Zhiye arrived, the group was already drinking, the atmosphere lively and convivial.

When Feng Bing spotted her, she immediately got up and sauntered over, winking playfully. "Don’t say your sisters don’t look out for you when good things come along."

Du Zhiye was puzzled at first, but as she slipped into the booth, she understood what Feng Bing meant.

Seated beside her was a very handsome man. When he turned to look at her, she was genuinely startled.

He was strikingly good-looking.

The man gave her a polite nod. "Miss Du, I hope you don’t mind me joining in the fun."

Du Zhiye licked her lips and smiled, "Of course not, the more the merrier." As she spoke, she shot Feng Bing a discreet thumbs-up.

The handsome man introduced himself as Wen Xiyao. His family was in real estate.

They hit it off immediately, finding themselves at ease in each other's company within just a few exchanges. Wen Xiyao had a sharp wit; every joke landed perfectly with Du Zhiye.

She laughed so heartily that she didn’t even notice when she toppled into his arms.

Someone caught that moment on camera.

Just after she’d finished a round of drinks with Wen Xiyao, her private investigator called. Du Zhiye excused herself, phone in hand, and found a quiet corner.

"Miss Du, I found something. I’ve sent the video to your email," the investigator said.

Du Zhiye thanked him, hung up, and quickly checked her inbox.

The video was clear: after she had gone upstairs, a man slinked under her car, tinkering there for about half a minute before crawling back out. The angle wasn’t great, and the man wore a baseball cap, so his face wasn’t visible.

However, the investigator had also sent footage from an intersection camera. That video caught the man’s face—it wasn’t completely clear, but enough to make out his features.

He drove away, and through the license plate, they quickly identified him.

Wang Qiang, from South City, forty-five years old, a compulsive gambler.

Du Zhiye closed her email and messaged the investigator, asking him to look into everyone Wang Qiang had met in the days before and after he tampered with her car—and whether any suspicious deposits had appeared in his bank account.

No sooner had she sent the message than Feng Bing came looking for her, amusement in her voice as she stood across from Du Zhiye. "So, what do you think of Wen Xiyao?"

Du Zhiye replied, "He’s not bad—pretty funny."

Feng Bing leaned against the wall, slightly tipsy. "You should consider dating him; his family’s well-off."

Du Zhiye just smiled without saying a word.

Feng Bing quickly picked up on her mood, straightening up and taking a couple of steps closer. "What’s wrong? Is something on your mind?"

Du Zhiye shook her head, glanced at Feng Bing, and said, "Come on, let’s go back and drink."

Feng Bing nodded. As they walked back arm in arm, Du Zhiye suddenly asked, "Who do you think would be happiest if I died?"

Feng Bing paused mid-step, casting a complicated look at her. "What’s going on?"

Du Zhiye licked her lips. "Someone tampered with my car."

Feng Bing was startled, her whole body tensing as she asked, "Do you know who it was?"