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Hu Manli pointed her camera at the coffee shop across the street and gently stroked the shutter button with her finger.

Through the telephoto lens, she could clearly see Ah Dong's well-defined profile.

He was gently holding the woman's hand across from him, his eyes filled with tenderness.

“It’s the seventh day, and it’s still the same routine.” Hu Manli said through gritted teeth, her fingers unconsciously tightening. “She goes shopping with Ali in the morning, goes on a date with Zhou Shufang in the afternoon, and then goes back to Ali’s house to spend the night. She’s a true master of time management.”

Su Ning, who was standing nearby, adjusted the volume of his headphones. The bugging device they had installed in A Dong's apartment was clearly transmitting Ali's humming.

Of course, all of these devices were provided by Suning. When Hu Manli saw these devices, she was completely stunned.

It felt like I was seeing Suning for the first time, since these devices aren't for ordinary people.

"Sister Manli, do you think Zhou Shufang knows about Ali's existence?"

"Of course I don't know!" Hu Manli turned her head sharply, her eyes burning with anger. "Zhou Shufang thought Adong was single. Last week she even told me she wanted to buy him retirement insurance. She's sixty years old, and she's being played like a fool by a man twenty years younger than her!"

“Sister Manli, you’re too stubborn. Perhaps our suspicions are unnecessary.”

"What's wrong? Feeling discouraged?"

"No! I feel that Adong and Zhou Shufang's relationship is complicated. Maybe they've been together for a long time."

"Hmph! You really think your guess is correct?"

"Of course! I've always been very confident in myself."

Su Ning thoughtfully touched the newly sprouted stubble on his chin.

As a newly hired insurance investigator at Taiying International, he understood the complexities of such cases better than Hu Manli, a former housewife.

“We need more evidence. These photos alone are not enough to prove that A-Dong had any fraudulent intent.”

"Evidence?" Hu Manli sneered, stuffing the camera into her bag. "I'll take Zhou Shufang to A Dong's house right now and expose his true colors on the spot!"

"Wait!" Su Ning reached out to stop her, but Hu Manli had already rushed out of the car.

He sighed, quickly packed up his listening equipment, and followed.

I suddenly realized that Hu Manli has become increasingly impatient lately, perhaps because of the bet I made with her.

In the two weeks since he joined the company, he has already experienced his partner's decisive and efficient style.

After her divorce, Hu Manli returned to the workforce and seemed to transform all her frustrations into an almost obsessive desire to win.

Thirty minutes later, Hu Manli pulled a bewildered Zhou Shufang to stand in front of A Dong's apartment.

Zhou Shufang's meticulously styled silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, and she wore a jade bracelet on her wrist that Hu Manli had never seen before.

"Manli, what are you doing? Adong said he has to rehearse today." Zhou Shufang's voice was hesitant, but Hu Manli had already rang the doorbell.

"Auntie, don't worry! Did you take your blood pressure medication this morning?"

"You've already eaten? What's wrong?"

"That's good! I'll show you a great show today."

"..."

The moment the door opened, Hu Manli's prepared questions caught in her throat.

It's true that Ali was standing behind A Dong, but there were also five or six other people in the room setting up camera equipment.

The script spread out on the coffee table prominently displayed the words "Midnight Romance".

"Shuhua?" Adong's eyes widened in surprise, then he gave a professional smile. "What brings you here? We're rehearsing for next week's performance."

He turned to Ali, "Ali and I play husband and wife in the drama, and this is Director Liu from the TV station."

Hu Manli's face instantly turned bright red.

Zhou Shufang gently patted the back of her hand: "Manli, I told you last week that Adong is an actor in the city's drama troupe."

The director walked over and warmly shook Zhou Shufang's hand: "Ms. Zhou, you've come at the perfect time! Adong said you're very interested in our new play. Would you like to watch a rehearsal?"

At this moment, Hu Manli was so embarrassed that she wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground.

Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a text message from Su Ning: "I checked A Dong's background. He is indeed a registered actor, but he has two records of being sued for financial disputes. Don't rush to apologize."

Zhou Shufang seemed to sense Hu Manli's embarrassment and considerately changed the subject: "Manli is just concerned about me! Adong, didn't you say you were going to treat me to the coffee you made?"

On the way back, Zhou Shufang silently gazed out the window.

Hu Manli gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white: "Auntie, I'm sorry, I was too impulsive."

"Did Sun Jie tell you to do this?" Zhou Shufang suddenly spoke, her voice unusually calm. "I know my daughter, and I know you. You've known each other for fifteen years, since Sun Jie started junior high school."

Hu Manli's hand trembled slightly.

In the rearview mirror, Suning's car was following them at a distance that wasn't too close.

“Actually, A-Dong and I…” Zhou Shufang took a deep breath, “we’ve been together for five years.”

"What?" Hu Manli slammed on the brakes, and the car jolted violently at the red light.

“When Sun Jie was sixteen, her father and I separated. We just didn’t go through with the divorce proceedings, because we were afraid it would affect her college entrance exam.” Zhou Shufang stroked the jade bracelet. “Old Sun knew about me and A Dong before he passed away, and he didn’t object.”

Hu Manli's mind went blank.

Five years ago, A-Dong was only in his early thirties, while Zhou Shufang was already...

Good heavens! How strong must the flavor be to eat this?
"You find it unbelievable, don't you?" Zhou Shufang smiled bitterly. "I think so too! But who can explain matters of the heart? After Lao Sun passed away, it was A Dong who stayed by my side. Now I want to buy him a pension insurance policy, but Sun Jie thinks I've been scammed."

Hu Manli didn't know how to respond.

Hu Manli felt increasingly uneasy. Just two months after Sun Jie's father passed away, Zhou Shufang had become completely infatuated with A Dong.

Hu Manli still suspected that A Dong was a fraud, but unfortunately she lacked conclusive evidence.

Suning called Hu Manli overnight to ask for her opinion on whether they should take over Zhou Shufang's insurance policy.

Hu Manli decided to take on this order and do it perfectly.

So Hu Manli and Su Ning arranged to meet with Sun Jie again, explaining that they wanted to take over Zhou Shufang's insurance policy.

Sun Jie was furious, convinced that her mother had been deceived by A Dong.

However, Hu Manli followed A Dong for seven days and confirmed that he and Zhou Shufang were dating.

Sun Jie didn't believe it at all and went directly to her mother, Zhou Shuhua, to argue with her.

The mother insisted on buying pension insurance for A-Dong, insisting that there was genuine affection between her and A-Dong. Hu Manli advised Zhou Shufang to be understanding of Sun Jie.

Zhou Shufang, however, refused to listen, believing that she was about to turn sixty and did not want to wait any longer.

Then Zhou Shufang admitted to her daughter that she and A Dong had been dating for five years, and that she and her husband had separated when Sun Jie was sixteen years old. They had kept this a secret because they didn't want Sun Jie to be hurt.

Sun Jie was immediately stunned.

However, Hu Manli was even more shocked, because Su Ning had guessed everything. She looked at the man with a half-smile on his face with horror.

Then Hu Manli could only try to persuade Sun Jie with kind words. Sun Jie was worried and asked Hu Manli to postpone the insurance policy her mother bought for A Dong.

Hu Manli couldn't bear it, so she had to agree. However, Suning was not in a hurry to place its first order with Taiying International.

Hu Manli needs to come up with a solution that satisfies both sides, and asks Suning for three days.

"Su Ning, tell me honestly, how did you figure it out?" "It's simple! This world is too complicated, with truth and falsehood intertwined."

"Yes! Just like Ding Zhiyuan, I never dreamed he would cheat on me. Perhaps Zhou Shuhua and A Dong have real feelings for each other."

“Zhou Shuhua is almost twenty years older than Adong. Sister Manli, what do you think Adong is after?”

"Huh? Real feelings?"

"Perhaps older people are more considerate of his feelings."

"..."

Hu Manli and Su Ning naturally couldn't understand A Dong's thoughts, since neither of them were A Dong.

Then Hu Manli worked tirelessly for two days, even consulting with industry veterans, all in an effort to make this case as perfect as possible.

Tang Ling of Taiying International had been keeping a close eye on Suning's every move. She noticed that Suning hadn't made any sales or asked its old customers for help, so she started to make sarcastic remarks about Suning.

"Oh dear! I didn't expect Lanyang Insurance to be getting worse and worse. The two people who jumped ship here are both idiots."

"Manager Tang, if I remember correctly, you also came from Lanyang Insurance, right?"

"Hmph! Who do you think you are? What makes you think you can compare to me?"

"What? Do you have more mouths than me or something? Why can't I compare to you?"

"Don't be so arrogant! It's almost the end of the month, I'd like to see what you and Xue Xiaozhou are going to do."

"Don't worry about it! Even if I fail to complete the task and get fired, that's my own business."

"Haha, fine! Then I'll just sit back and watch your final fate unfold."

However, Su Ning regarded Tang Ling and the others' mockery as mere noise, because he was about to give them all a shock.

However, Xue Xiaozhou, standing to the side, was discouraged because he hadn't expected buying insurance to be so difficult.

Seeing that Hu Manli was always the top salesperson at Lanyang Insurance Company, Xue Xiaozhou mistakenly thought that selling insurance was very easy.

They mistakenly believed that as long as they could provide professional insurance services to clients, both parties would be on a fair and just footing.

In the eyes of those customers, selling insurance is just a way for them to make a living, so the salespeople are always inferior to them.

"Suning, I didn't expect you to have no sales either?"

"I'm currently following their trades! We should have results in the next couple of days."

"I see! I'm hopeless. I haven't seen any opportunities yet, and everyone thinks I'm a fraud."

"Xue Xiaozhou, actually your personality is not suitable for insurance sales because you are too insistent on your own choices and ideas, and you are unwilling to compromise on things you don't like."

"..."

"Think it over carefully! As the saying goes, a woman fears marrying the wrong man, and a man fears choosing the wrong career."

"..." Xue Xiaozhou had naturally already discovered the problem, but he felt particularly unwilling now.

……

The office area of ​​Taiying International's insurance company.

Tang Ling was naturally very unhappy after being humiliated by Suning, after all, she was a powerful woman at Taiying International.

Of course, she couldn't do anything about Su Ning, since Su Ning wasn't one of her people.

However, Xue Xiaozhou had been with the company for a full month, and Tang Ling was very dissatisfied because the members of Tang Ling's team had all closed many small deals.

So they were told to find big clients, but Xue Xiaozhou hadn't closed any deals. Tang Ling then publicly humiliated him, venting all her anger on him.

Tang Ling slammed her fist on the table, filled with righteous indignation, and demanded of Xue Xiaozhou, "Xue Xiaozhou! You've had zero orders in a month! Are you here to retire?"

Xue Xiaozhou lowered her head in shame and explained, "Manager Tang, I've been trying my best to contact clients..."

Group member A scoffed, "Effort? I think it's more like effort to slack off!"

Team member B chimed in, “Exactly! We’ve already closed five or six small deals.”

At this moment, Tang Ling tossed a T-shirt to Xue Xiaozhou, saying, "Wear this, and learn as you walk around the company today!"

Xue Xiaozhou unfolded the T-shirt, his face turning deathly pale as he erupted in fury, “'I’m the bottom-ranked king'? This is outrageous!”

Tang Ling sneered, "Either wear it or get out!"

Xue Xiaozhou gripped her T-shirt tightly, "I'm going to report you to HR for workplace bullying!"

Tang Ling slammed her hand on the table with a disdainful look and said, "Go ahead! Let's see if HR believes you, a complete newbie, or me, Tang Ling!"

The office was silent.

……

Hu Manli's father went to the school to deliver medicinal wine to his son-in-law Ding Zhiyuan, only to learn that Ding Zhiyuan had already abandoned his wife and children.

So she angrily beat Ding Zhiyuan. Hu Manli, who rushed over after hearing the news, was very ashamed and angry, feeling that it was not worth arguing with Ding Zhiyuan about this.

However, a casual remark from her father inspired Hu Manli, and she immediately came up with an idea: a suitable insurance policy plan for Zhou Shufang.

That meant having Zhou Shufang take out one million to buy herself an increasing longevity insurance policy.

Then Hu Manli and Su Ning brought the insurance policy to Zhou Shufang's house.

Hu Manli confidently began explaining the policy, "Auntie, we've designed an increasing longevity insurance plan. You'll invest one million..."

Suning also provided a very professional introduction to the specific insurance business, stating that "the policy value will increase year by year, and multiple beneficiaries can be designated."

Sun Jie, who was standing nearby, immediately interjected excitedly, "Mom, this money must all be left to our daughter as an education fund!"

Zhou Shufang frowned and stated her minimum requirement, "Adong has taken care of me for so many years, so at least one-third should be left for him."

"Mom, that Ah Dong is only after your money!"

"..."

Hu Manli, who was standing nearby, quickly interrupted, "Listen to me! Actually, things in this world aren't absolute, just like when Zhiyuan and I divorced..."

Zhou Shufang and Sun Jie were both surprised. "What? Manli, you're already divorced?"

Hu Manli smiled wryly, "If we had done a prenuptial agreement back then, we wouldn't be in this awkward situation now, Auntie. So, it's very simple to make Adong benefit: you two must get a marriage certificate."

Sun Jie was stunned, "This..."

Zhou Shufang seemed thoughtful. "Only legally married couples can inherit...that's very reasonable."

At this moment, Su Ning handed over a pen and explained, "Auntie, if you agree, then sign here, and the policy will take effect immediately."

"Wait! We need to add another clause: the funds can only be withdrawn after my mother passes away."

Hu Manli smiled, “Of course! This is also a basic clause of longevity insurance.”

The three exchanged a smile, and Zhou Shufang solemnly signed her name.

……

(End of this chapter)