Chapter Forty: No One Rises Early Without Profit

Regarding Manager Sun’s assessment, Ning Shuyi made no comment, merely expressing an understanding in her demeanor. She then proceeded, as a matter of routine, to inquire about Wang Yuluo’s account status, as if their earlier casual conversation had served only to break the ice and warm the atmosphere.

After receiving an answer devoid of any abnormalities, they thanked Manager Sun and departed from the branch.

“Where to next?” Huo Yan asked Ning Shuyi once they were in the car.

“Back to the bureau. I need to see Captain Dong and get some paperwork done,” Ning Shuyi replied, having already made up her mind.

Huo Yan did not press her about the nature of the paperwork or what would follow; he simply drove toward the bureau as instructed.

Ning Shuyi frowned slightly, pondering Manager Sun’s words at the bank. She then asked Huo Yan, “Do you remember when Wang Yuluo’s aunt came with her father to the bureau to identify the body, and later when she went to Wang Yuluo’s home to inspect the situation—did she show any particularly noteworthy behavior?”

Huo Yan needed no time to think. He responded at once, “She was doing two things. One was distancing herself, the other was directing blame at outsiders.”

Ning Shuyi turned to look at him. It seemed that even when silent, he had a keen sense of things. She herself had noticed this detail, but when she asked, he responded without hesitation, suggesting these two points were already being considered in his mind.

“Yes, she portrayed herself as completely cut off from her niece, like a hired housekeeper. But judging from what the bank staff said, and from the bank’s transaction records, Wang Yuluo’s aunt’s sense of boundaries wasn’t as strong as she claimed,” Ning Shuyi murmured. “We never interacted with Wang Yuluo in life, so we can’t say what kind of person she truly was.

Still, her ex-boyfriend, her aunt, and her classmates in the postgraduate prep class each give slightly different accounts. Cai Xin thinks highly of Wang Yuluo because Wang Yuluo treated her well, especially in financial matters—never fussing over money, often taking care of her and letting her benefit.”

Li Qiao’s sarcasm toward Wang Yuluo stems from his desire to improve his life through her, but he was dumped once, then shamelessly tried to reconcile, only to be strung along by Wang Yuluo, who refused to give in. So resentment lingered in his heart.

As for the aunt’s narrative of enduring humiliation and hardship, carrying all burdens, yet her niece remained ungrateful and treated her like a maid—making her work but keeping her at arm’s length, never close—the truth of this version, and its underlying motives, must be further investigated!”

“No one does something for nothing,” Huo Yan remarked after Ning Shuyi finished.

“Seems you’re a pessimist when it comes to emotions—unconvinced of love’s sacrifice or selfless family affection,” Ning Shuyi teased.

She spoke casually, not expecting a response. Yet Huo Yan replied with a soft affirmation. Ning Shuyi instinctively turned to look at him, noticing his somber expression, as if he were earnestly responding to her jest.

She said no more. Everyone’s life experience shapes their outlook; knowing little about Huo Yan’s past, she had no right to judge his views.

“Do you believe it?” Just as Ning Shuyi thought her silence had ended the topic, Huo Yan suddenly turned the question back to her.

Ning Shuyi shook her head. “I don’t believe it either. There’s no such thing as selfless affection! All relationships, like clapping hands, must be reciprocal—one hand alone can’t make a sound. Feelings that go unanswered cannot endure; even between parent and child, if one side is an ingrate, sooner or later the warmth of the other will grow cold.

So I agree with you—no one does something for nothing. If Wang Yuluo’s aunt found no benefit in managing her brother’s and niece’s affairs over the years, I don’t believe she’d keep enduring her niece’s coldness, relying solely on ‘selfless family affection’ to give so much unilaterally.”

When the two returned to the bureau, they immediately sought out Captain Dong to report their findings, explaining everything they had learned about Wang Yuluo’s bank account and her aunt.

Naturally, Ning Shuyi did most of the talking. Huo Yan mostly listened, only adding a few words when Ning Shuyi finished, or responding when Captain Dong addressed him directly.

“Wang Yuluo’s aunt has always presented herself as the hardworking, self-sacrificing relative. The staff at the branch don’t really know Wang Yuluo personally, haven’t interacted with her much, but thanks to her aunt’s subtle influence, they all hold a negative impression of Wang Yuluo, seeing her as an ungrateful spendthrift—a black sheep.

So even if we could, we shouldn’t conduct further investigation at that branch. I don’t doubt the professionalism of the bank staff, but law itself cannot escape human sentiment, and even law enforcement can’t always remain strictly impartial, let alone other industries.

Manager Sun has clearly established an emotional stance already. In such circumstances, before we find anything truly valuable, she might unintentionally or deliberately tip off Wang Yuluo’s aunt,” Ning Shuyi told Captain Dong.

He agreed with their reasoning and readily approved their plan to investigate Wang Yuluo’s aunt’s bank information at the higher-level branch. He signed the papers without hesitation, handed them to Huo Yan to process, and kept Ning Shuyi in the office.

“How is it? Has your teamwork gone smoothly these last couple of days?” After Huo Yan left, Captain Dong finally asked Ning Shuyi. He had always trusted her steady approach, but rumors about Huo Yan’s odd temperament—even his former commanders in the military had said as much—prompted Dong Weifeng to inquire further.

“Teamwork?” Ning Shuyi was momentarily surprised, then laughed. “Captain Dong, we don’t really need to adjust to each other! He’s very cooperative at work, doesn’t talk much, never causes trouble—just does whatever he’s told. You could say he’s spot-on, highly proactive, so there’s really no issue with teamwork.”