You Know Me

While the commotion was happening in the living room, Song Caitang had managed to corner Wei He’an.

Wei He’an continued playing the role of the considerate nephew. Besides coming over to comfort his aunt, he had helped her to deal with some smaller matters. When Zhao Zhi arrived earlier, he had not come out to greet him because he was busy with other things. By the time he got the message that Zhao Zhi was here and made his way to the entrance of the house, Zhao Zhi had already left, while Wen Yuansi had entered the house with the owner of the house for tea.

Since there were guests in the house, he decided it was better not to interrupt and continue doing what he was doing earlier. He was rather surprised when Song Caitang suddenly appeared in front of him.

“I have a feeling that you know me.”

Song Caitang stared at him and went straight to the point.

Wei He’an’s expression did not flinch, his smile as gentle and elegant as ever. “That’s right. Like I said before, there’s nobody in Bianliang who doesn’t know the extremely talented Miss Song.”

Song Caitang smiled faintly. “May I ask where your hometown is?”

“Your question surprises me, Miss Song,” Wei He’an raised an eyebrow. “I’m a son to the Wei family in this city and will become a count in due time. Of course my hometown is Bianliang city.”

“Have you traveled to other places before?”

“I’ve gone to a lot of places. Do you really want me to list them all?”

The gaze they exchanged carried many implications.

Even though they were clearly guarded, so their questions and answers were very vague, the information gleaned from this process was not necessarily as vague.

Song Caitang looked at his rolled up sleeves and the pot in his hand. “Why are you here today?”

Wei He’an raised his arm to show her those rolled up sleeves and the pot. “I’m here to help my aunt.”

“I see.” Song Caitang’s gaze was clear and her smile was sweet, but her words were shocking. “But somehow I sense that your relationship with your aunt isn’t as good as everyone says it is.”

Wei He’an’s smile froze for a second before it broadened. “You checked on me?”

Song Caitang did not answer him and asked, “You spent your childhood growing up in the Zhending house. You met me there?”

The topic went from the case right back to this.

In that instant, Wei He’an couldn’t hide the surprised look on his face, including his micro-expressions.

Song Caitang knew she had guessed it right.

It was easy to find out about Wei He’an. She didn’t need to know everything, since she could piece the rest together logically with just a little to go on.

The Weis were a prominent family in Bianliang with a count among the family members. But Wei He’an was the son of a concubine, so the position of count would have naturally gone to someone from the official wife’s line and not to him. That was why he had a pretty rough childhood. Not only did his mother suddenly die from an illness, but he was ostracized and sent away to his mother’s hometown in Zhending. It was only when the heir to the count died suddenly in a fight and the count had no other heir that the family suddenly remembered Wei He’an’s existence and brought him back to Bianliang.

Wei He’an had only returned to Bianliang about two years ago, so he had spent the rest of his life in Zhending.

The odd atmosphere between them and the odd things he said made Song Caitang guess that he actually knew her from before. It wasn’t just because she was famous.

They had met before she lost her memories.

Perhaps it was in Zhending.

Zhending was quite close to the border in the north. Zhao Zhi had also met her because he was fighting along the border and wasn’t in Bianliang, so this was definitely plausible.

“When Fourth Missy Gan died, you passed by the scene of the crime. I don’t think that was a coincidence, was it?”

She smiled sweetly and confidently at him.

Wei He’an almost lost his mind by her haphazard questioning.

What was she trying to ask him?

Was it the case? Or the past?

He was prepared to answer questions on the first topic, then she asked about something else. He had just formulated an answer to that new topic, and now she was asking something else again… Not even the smartest person could have prepared themselves for such a thing!

His expressions must have given him away.

Song Caitang’s little smile was relaxed and secretive.

The art of conversation was really a fight to take charge. If you’re curious and you want information out of the other party, then you’d be on the losing end and the other party would be in control. If you’re not curious and you manage to capture the other person’s attention, then you would be able to determine the direction and tone of the conversation.

Song Caitang knew that Wei He’an definitely had some motive for getting close to her, but she wasn’t going to ask him about it now. She wanted him to know that she would never ask him for anything. If he wanted something, he would have to come to her and explain what he wanted. If he was sincere, she would give him the chance to speak. Otherwise… it was too bad.

Wei He’an stared at Song Caitang with a conflicted look in his eyes for a long time, then sighed. “Like I said, I was helping my aunt to get something.”

“Oh?” Song Caitang tilted her head slightly. “Of all the times to get something, you had to pass through that area at that time? I think we all ought to be a little more honest here – Wei He’an, what did you see at that time?”

Wei He’an was really astonished by her senses. This woman was impossibly clever, as though nobody could hide anything from her. She wasn’t just an expert at reading corpses, but also the hearts of living humans.

He bowed his head to think, then said honestly, “I also saw Gan Zhixuan and Lu Yuxue at that time, just like what both of them had said.”

“Anything else?”

“I think I also saw Fourth Missy Gan,” Wei He’an wasn’t so sure about this. “But I’m not very familiar with her, so I’m not sure if that was definitely her. I didn’t see anything else.”

Song Caitang went into deep thought for a moment, then asked, “You are interested in Miss Lu?”

Wei He’an shook his head. “She’s not my type.”

“Then what’s your type?”

“Someone like you.” Wei He’an’s gaze flickered, his smile elegant. “Someone confident, aloof, intelligent, able to understand everything, yet never using that to scheme against other people… That is a very attractive quality.”

Most young women would feel their faces redden, their hearts race and feel rather shy if they heard such words, but Song Caitang wasn’t most women. She burst out laughing and raised an eyebrow, “You’re the son of a prominent family, alright. They all have their own way of flirting with women. But I’m not that easy to fool, Mr. Wei. I will not believe that.”

Wei He’an shrugged. “That’s too bad then.”

Song Caitang then asked another question, “Are you familiar with Miss Lu?”

Wei He’an smiled. “I already told you, I’m not interested in her.”

“I’m not trying to trap you here, I’m not that despicable,” Song Caitang wagged a finger. “Being interested in a person is different from whether you’re familiar with a person.”

Wei He’an finally answered the question directly. “I’m not familiar with her. I’ve only met her a few times.”

“But both of you are very well coordinated,” Song Caitang stared at Wei He’an, her eyes frighteningly bright. “Before the victim was discovered, I ran into Lu Yuxue along the corridor, and I also saw that you were coming down a different corridor a few meters away. The two of you did not actually bump into each other, but your eyes met and both of you looked rather surprised.”

“You were surprised to find each other here.”

Wei He’an knew that no matter how hard he tried to hide his expression, Song Caitang would still see through him, so there was no point in hiding. His eyes were filled with amazement and admiration for her.

He couldn’t believe she had noticed that too!

But he did not comment on it. He merely smiled and absolutely refused to cooperate.

Song Caitang didn’t mind either. She went in a different direction, her words continuing to sting like needles. “Your aunt has been so good to you, pushing you into the limelight over the past two years in particular. Wouldn’t you help her to get rid of an eyesore in the house?”

Wei He’an lowered his gaze. “I wouldn’t need to do that.”

“That’s true. After all, your aunt is so formidable, not only is she able to manage her own household without any problems, but she was also able to interfere with the matters of her family and cause the death of your mother.”

As Song Caitang spoke, she observed his expression carefully.

“I can understand if you used poison to frame her.”

Wei He’an’s expression suddenly changed. “How did you know?”

“I wasn’t sure at first, but now I am.” Song Caitang smiled.

Wei He’an stared hard at her.

Song Caitang pointed at his face. “Your expression has told me everything.”

Wei He’an suddenly started having regrets. He shouldn’t have caved in. He should have remained vigilant and should not have allowed Song Caitang to lead him by the nose!

This time, he was really angry. He pursed his lips tightly and hissed, “Stop trying to sound me out. I can tell you honestly that it’s true that my relationship with my aunt is not as good as everyone says it is, and it’s because of what happened in my family. But I don’t see the need for other people to know about that. As for this case, the death of Fourth Missy Gan has nothing to do with me. I did not see who the killer was either.”

“Is that so?” Song Caitang continued to observe him closely, making sure she caught every change in his expression.

Wei He’an got even more riled up by the way she was staring at him and suddenly took a few steps toward her. He narrowed his eyes threateningly at her. “Miss Song, it’s very dangerous for you to look at a man like that.”

But before he could put on a more threatening expression or do anything nasty to her, a large hand pushed him aside.

Zhao Zhi had finished questioning Qiu Wenkang and was back.

The way Zhao Zhi glared at Wei He’an was also pretty frightening. “Mr. Wei. I’d advise you to watch your step. If these legs of yours are not very good for walking, let me know. I sharpen my sword every day, so it’s really nice and sharp.”

Who does this guy think he is? How dare he make advances on my girl! The audacity! Does he think I’m dead?!

When he pushed Wei He’an aside earlier, he had also used his other hand to pull Song Caitang behind him.

Song Caitang was rather confused and couldn’t understand why Zhao Zhi seemed so angry. Did the questioning go badly just now? But that didn’t matter. They were making very good progress over here and gathered a lot of information, so it was time to wrap up their visit.

She poked Zhao Zhi’s back to tell him to move aside.

But he didn’t budge. He stopped glaring at Wei He’an and turned to quickly whisper into her ear, “He doesn’t suit you.”

He doesn’t suit… what? Me? Where is this comment even coming from?!

Song Caitang nearly burst out laughing when she realized why Zhao Zhi was so defensive.

What was he even thinking? Had he forgotten they were working on a murder case?

Wei He’an looked at Zhao Zhi, then looked at Song Caitang, and suddenly seemed to understand what was going on. He had a knowing smile on his face that also seemed somewhat provocative.

Song Caitang was immediately wary. What was Wei He’an thinking about?

Zhao Zhi did not take provocation well! They had very serious business to settle today and she couldn’t afford any mishaps!

But it seemed like the heavens did not hear her prayer and decided to send Lu Yuxue their way at this juncture.

Lu Yuxue naturally gave Zhao Zhi an adoring and sweet look, but threw Song Caitang a nasty star.

She wasn’t the only one who had arrived. Wen Yuansi had finished his meeting with Madam Wei and Sang Zheng, so he had come over too.

His reaction was the opposite of Lu Yuxue. He smiled brightly at Song Caitang and his eyes even twinkled. But his smile faltered when he looked at Zhao Zhi.