Just like how Yao Chen had doubted everyone but never Han Yanyan, Jiang Ye had speculated endlessly about the identity of the mysterious informant but never once suspected Han Yanyan. So when the woman with a slightly rounded belly stood before him, his shock was beyond words.
If it weren’t for their previous successful collaborations and the fact that she had saved Yang Jun’s life, Jiang Ye might really have thought this was just a prank by Yao Chen, meant to stir him up.
That day, Han Yanyan had told Yao Chen that she was going for a pregnancy check-up, and indeed she had gone. The upscale private hospital did not require her to wait; the service was attentive, and she completed the check-up early.
The nurse even let her listen to the fetal heartbeat, which sounded completely different from that of an adult—thump thump thump, fast and lively. It is said that some new mothers get so moved the first time they hear it that they end up crying.
Han Yanyan listened intently for a while and exclaimed to the nurse, “How wonderful!”
The nurse was accustomed to this routine, hearing so many heartbeats each day that nothing could move her anymore. To avoid complaints and a penalty on her pay, she could only force a smile and say, “Yes, it is.”
After leaving the hospital, Han Yanyan got into a car. She had gotten her driving license long ago and used to drive often. But ever since she got pregnant, Yao Chen had assigned a little brother to follow her around.
Han Yanyan instructed the little brother to drive to the mall and sent him off to buy a snack she loved. It could only be found at a specific shop, and the closest one was quite a few blocks away.
While he was away, she found a modest fast-food restaurant in a less noticeable corner of the mall. Jiang Ye was waiting for her there.
Upon confirming that Han Yanyan was indeed the mysterious informant, Jiang Ye’s expression was hard to describe.
Of course, he knew Han Yanyan. All her information was on his desk, and he had even dug up how Yao Chen had severed her ties with her family. A poor female student, beautiful yet exploited by her male-preferential family. With a man like Yao Chen rescuing her from a dire situation, providing her with a life of luxury, and marrying her to give her status, one could say she was quite fortunate.
He had heard that Yao Chen treated her very well, and eventually, he even stopped seeking other women, settling down just for her.
No matter who looked at it, it was difficult to understand why Han Yanyan would betray Yao Chen.
Forget about justice being unwavering against evil; it wasn’t that simple. Usually, wives of underworld figures wouldn’t be the type to stand up and denounce their husbands. There are rare exceptions—mostly those who suffer from domestic violence, acting just to save themselves.
Han Yanyan didn’t resemble a victim of domestic violence. Women who have been through that tend to show signs of cowardice, panic, and inferiority in their expressions. Clad in a loose dress, the pregnancy hormones had made her skin even smoother and more radiant than before.
What could her motives be? Was it… a matters of the heart?
Jiang Ye didn’t want to be crude, but aside from the thought of “she must have another man and wants to get rid of Yao Chen,” he couldn’t find any other motive.
As police officers, they needed to uncover the reasonable motives behind a criminal's actions.
“Please don’t waste time on useless emotions. Trust me, Yao Chen will be just as shocked as you are,” Han Yanyan said helplessly.
Feeling a bit awkward, Jiang Ye replied, “Sorry, it’s just…”
“I don’t have much time, so let me get to the point.” Han Yanyan pulled out a large bag she had specifically brought today. “Everything's here—his personal accounts, the details of his transactions, the locations of his stash, evidence of him laundering money through cultural and real estate companies…”
She pushed the bag toward him. Jiang Ye’s gaze shifted as he looked at the pile of documents. He had been waiting for this day for far too long.
“Wait for my news,” he said.
As Han Yanyan prepared to leave, Jiang Ye called out to her, “Yao… Miss Han!”
She turned back.
“Please be careful,” he said. He understood Yao Chen’s ruthless nature all too well.
Han Yanyan nodded, “Then you all should hurry.”
She was a gracefully beautiful woman, a knife to her husband, yet her hands were merciless, her lips curled in a gentle smile.
As a police officer and as Yao Chen’s enemy, Jiang Ye would be overjoyed to send Yao Chen to hell himself. But as a man, he couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable sense of sympathy for him.
Though Han Yanyan wore a loose dress, her figure was slender, and from behind, one would hardly guess she was pregnant. What kind of woman was she, really?
Jiang Ye watched her silhouette disappear into the crowd and rubbed his arms, trying to dispel the goosebumps that had inexplicably risen.
His actions were swift; after obtaining the evidence the day before, he secured an arrest warrant by the next evening.
Police cars surrounded the mansion when they arrived to apprehend Yao Chen, who was at that moment listening to Han Yanyan's belly to hear the fetal heartbeat.
“I can’t hear anything,” he complained.
Han Yanyan chuckled at him, “Of course you can’t. You need a fetal monitor.”
Yao Chen responded, “Let’s buy one later. I want to listen every day at home.”
Just then, the sound of sirens pierced the air; the house was surrounded tightly, making escape impossible. The grandeur of the scene matched Yao Chen’s status in the underworld of K City.
Despite the chaos, Yao Chen remained unshaken. He had been invited for “tea” at the police station many times and was well accustomed to it. He had even generously gifted the police station a high-end coffee machine along with several boxes of quality tea and coffee beans, to ensure that whenever he was brought in, he wouldn’t be served subpar quality tea.
But this time was different; this time, Jiang Ye had an arrest warrant.
Yao Chen’s pupils narrowed as he saw the warrant, an ominous feeling creeping into his heart. Yet, he did not resist. Resistance would mean obstructing justice, and upstanding citizens never resist. Calmly, he extended his hands in front of him, allowing the officers to cuff him, saying, “My wife is pregnant. Please take care not to scare her.”
Before he was taken away, he held Han Yanyan’s hand in his cuffed ones and assured her gently, “It’s fine, don’t be afraid. Old Wu is still here.” He referred to his lawyer, who had pulled him out of trouble countless times over the past ten years, smoothing over many issues for him.
Jiang Ye stood beside him, his mood complicated, too complicated to speak.
Once the uniformed officers led Yao Chen away and the house was empty, Jiang Ye turned to Han Yanyan. “Pack your things. We’ll leave first, then you can come.”
Han Yanyan nodded.
Jiang Ye applied for a witness protection program. Yao Chen’s merciless nature ran deep, and his men were just as ruthless. Although they arrested quite a few that night, there would surely be those who escaped. Han Yanyan, as an important witness, needed to be protected.
Before leaving, Jiang Ye eyed Han Yanyan’s belly.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Is this child… Yao Chen’s?” Jiang Ye finally couldn’t help but ask, then immediately realized his impoliteness and apologized, “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanted to ask…”
What was he asking for? He couldn’t quite explain it. He truly meant that—in a way, both understood.
“Yes,” Han Yanyan said, smiling as she touched her belly. “This one is Yao Chen’s. I have no other man.”
That closed off the last possibility for Jiang Ye’s speculation. He felt that either he would die at the hands of a criminal or suffocate on the mystery of Han Yanyan’s secret.
The responsibility for Han Yanyan’s safety fell to Jiang Ye’s girlfriend. This female police officer had once been undercover against Jin Hao, only to have her cover blown by Han Yanyan. Han Yanyan knew her prior.
Jiang Ye briefed her before pursuing after Yao Chen, leaving first.
“Pack some personal items… and any medication you might need,” she advised gently. Though several years older than Han Yanyan, she herself wasn’t married nor had children but had heard that pregnant women needed to take vitamins like folic acid, thus her reminder. She was a compassionate woman with a strong sense of justice.
She replaced the previous “policewoman Han Yanyan” for this round.
Han Yanyan turned to go upstairs and dragged down only one bag, evidently well-prepared.
“Let’s go,” she said.
As she exited the door, she didn’t look back, hopping into the police car, not sparing her past home or Yao Chen a second glance.
On the road, the female officer remarked, “He must have harmed you, a man like him is rotten to the core.”
Han Yanyan replied nonchalantly, “No, he’s treated me well, always quite well.”
Han Yanyan at this moment thought—even if Yao Chen wasn't so bad to her.
Yao Chen clearly felt that this visit was utterly different from before; he hadn’t managed to meet Old Wu right away, nor could he leave unscathed in his usual nonchalant manner.
Having gone through many storms in his life, Yao Chen’s mental resilience was quite strong. He remained calm before Old Wu arrived, not uttering a word.
But when Old Wu finally appeared, Yao Chen immediately sensed something was amiss; Old Wu’s face was grave.
“This time, you may just capsize,” Old Wu said.
Yao Chen’s gaze sharpened.
“They’ve got all the evidence. Moreover…” Old Wu hesitated, “The witness is… just too formidable.”
Yao Chen’s brows furrowed deeper.
“Who is it?” he gritted, “Who is this scoundrel?”
All along, he had known there was a mole among them; he just hadn’t uncovered who it was. He would make that person pay dearly!
As a lawyer, Old Wu often had to deliver difficult truths. Yet it was the first time he was having such a hard time speaking.
“It’s…” he forced out, “your wife.”
Han Yanyan—this beautiful and charming girl. Old Wu had witnessed how she gradually ensnared Yao Chen. He had officiated their wedding. He knew all too well how Yao Chen had changed before and after their marriage, completely trusting Han Yanyan, sharing his heart without reservation.
As a man, he felt a pang of sadness for Yao Chen.
Decades of hard work, all crumbled at the hands of a woman. Not only that, but what she had done could very well spell Yao Chen’s doom.
What sort of hatred was this? What grievance? Yao Chen had treated her… quite well!
For a moment, Yao Chen was at a loss.
He blinked, still insisting, “What are you talking about? My wife is Yanyan—”
His voice suddenly cut off when he noticed Old Wu’s glance filled with sympathy—a painful sympathy. It was a look Yao Chen had never received in his life.
The room fell into an eerie silence.
After some time, Yao Chen forced the words from between his teeth.
“Who did you say? Say it again…”
The author has something to say: I’m tired; I’ll take a break. I won’t be updating twice a day for the next few days.
Single updates at 7 in the morning will continue.