Villain? No, I'll catch up with the protagonist after passing the civil service exam.

"Want one?"

Lu Zhenhai's facial muscles twitched unnaturally twice, and the mask of an elder that he usually wore so well almost cracked on the spot. He looked at his nephew, who was smiling innocently, and his fingers holding the wine glass turned slightly white from gripping it too tightly.

This isn't a chat; it's clearly a weasel paying respects to a chicken—no, it's a tiger inspecting its food reserves.

But he was, after all, a seasoned shrew who had been navigating the business world for decades. After a brief moment of panic, he quickly adjusted his expression and forced out a smile that was both kind and reproachful.

"Look at what you're saying, kid. Isn't the entire Lu family business going to be yours in the future? Your second uncle is just helping your father out and protecting the family business for you." As he spoke, Lu Zhenhai naturally steered the conversation to the moral high ground. "But you, Jingyan, dressed like this for an occasion like today... isn't that a bit too formal? People who know you're here to celebrate the old man's birthday might think that our Lu family has broken some cardinal rule and has been surrounded by you and your men."

Several distant relatives who had been eavesdropping all along, seeing that Lu Zhenhai had opened fire, also mustered their courage and echoed his sentiments.

"That's right, Jingyan. We're all family, why make it so tense?"

"Look how scared you've made your dad, and your older brother who's still in jail. You can't always side with outsiders, can you? We need to know a thing or two about human relationships."

Lu Jingyan listened quietly, his eyes behind his glasses remaining calm. He casually picked up a glass of soda from a passing waiter's tray; the bubbles burst on the glass, making a soft sound, just like the undercurrents surging beneath his calm exterior.

Social etiquette?

In this world distorted by desire and self-interest, so-called "social etiquette" is nothing more than a fig leaf used by these parasites to cover up their crimes.

"Second Uncle is right."

Lu Jingyan raised his glass, his tone as humble as a primary school student eager to be taught, "I am young and ignorant, and I will have to rely on my second uncle for guidance in the future."

As he spoke, he took a step forward and gently touched the glass in his hand to the red wine glass in Lu Zhenhai's hand.

"bite."

A crisp sound, inconspicuous in the noisy banquet hall, seemed to freeze Lu Zhenhai, causing his long speech to catch in his throat.

Because Lu Jingyan did not leave.

The moment the two glasses clinked, Lu Jingyan used the clinking motion to lean forward slightly and get close to Lu Zhenhai's ear. The distance was so close that he could see the fine beads of sweat on Lu Zhenhai's face from nervousness.

"Since Second Uncle mentioned 'preserving the family business'..."

Lu Jingyan's voice was very low, only the two of them could hear it, his tone as gentle as if he were discussing tonight's dishes, "Then can you explain to me why, last quarter, there were three transactions totaling 120 million yuan in funds flowing into Macau's gaming accounts through underground banks on the accounts of the group's subsidiary, 'Haiyue Trading'?"

"Bang!"

Without warning, the wine glass in Lu Zhenhai's hand shattered on the marble floor.

The crimson liquor splashed out, staining his expensive handmade leather shoes red, and like blood, reflected a look of terror on his instantly pale face.

The surrounding guests were startled by the sudden noise and cast surprised glances. Lu Zhenhua abruptly stood up, his brow furrowed: "Second brother, what's wrong?"

Lu Zhenhai seemed not to hear his elder brother's question. He was as if his spine had been removed, staring intently at his nephew who was still smiling.

Fear overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

Haiyue Trading was a private company he established himself, and it was kept extremely secret. Even Lu Zhenhua didn't know about it. How did this kid find out? Moreover, he even described the amount and flow of money perfectly!

These aren't police officers; they're demons with a full map cheat!

"You... what nonsense are you talking about..." Lu Zhenhai's lips trembled as he tried to make a final struggle, but his voice was so weak that even he himself couldn't believe it. "I don't understand what you're saying... Jing Yan, are you too tired from work and hallucinating?"

"Whether it's an illusion or not, the data doesn't lie."

Lu Jingyan straightened up, slowly took out a clean white handkerchief from his pocket, and gently wiped away a drop of wine stain that had gotten on his fingers from clinking glasses.

His movements were elegant and composed, as if he were not the one who had just terrified his uncle with a single sentence.

"Second Uncle, I also hope that I'm mistaken."

Lu Jingyan folded the handkerchief and put it back in his pocket. Then, that hand reached into the inside pocket of his police uniform once more.

This action made everyone present, who knew his "arrest process," feel their hearts skip a beat.

It’s over.

They're about to pull out handcuffs!

Lu Zhenhai's legs buckled, and he almost knelt down. He gripped the tablecloth tightly with both hands to barely support his swaying body. He watched as Lu Jingyan slowly withdrew his hand, and his breath almost stopped.

However, what Lu Jingyan took out was not the terrifying silver bracelet.

Instead, it was a neatly folded A4 sheet of paper with a blue badge printed on it.

"Don't be nervous, Second Uncle."

Looking at Lu Zhenhai's near-heart attack, Lu Jingyan curled his lips into a mocking smile and gently placed the paper on the wine-stained table.

"After all, today is a family banquet. I'm here to enjoy the meal, not to cause trouble. Handcuffs are too unlucky, so I didn't bring them."

Upon hearing "no handcuffs," Lu Zhenhai's heart, which was on the verge of bursting, calmed down slightly.

But the next second, Lu Jingyan's words plunged him into the deepest abyss.

"However, although I didn't bring handcuffs, I did bring along a 'tea invitation' that my colleagues from the Economic Crime Investigation Division had just printed out."

Lu Jingyan's slender fingers pressed on the paper and slowly pushed it toward Lu Zhenhai.

"Second Uncle, you're a respectable person. Would you like to leave on your own, or should I have a colleague come in and ask you to leave?"