The busy city moved like clockwork. It was barely past seven in the morning, yet the streets were already packed with cars and bustling with people.
Walking through the crowd, I felt oddly out of place—an occupational hazard, perhaps.
Instead of taking a cab, I walked the full length of Tingtang Road and arrived at Jiangcheng New District's tallest multi-purpose building: Century Garden.
The main tower rose 26 stories high, flanked by two 13-story annexes. The complex was shaped like the character "山" (mountain), supposedly to "suppress the dragon's head" of Jiangcheng according to local feng shui.
This was the headquarters of Jiangjin Real Estate, one of the city's most prestigious five-star hotels, and the venue of Jiangchen and Ye Bing's wedding ceremony.
By holding it here and inviting all of Jiangcheng's elite, the Jiang family had turned the event into more than a wedding—it was their official move to usher Ye Bing into high society.
"A wild bird turning into a phoenix. I guess from now on, our paths won't cross again." I let out a self-deprecating laugh and scanned the luxury cars lining the entrance. Lamborghinis, Ferraris—even a couple of Spykers, which started at five million yuan.
"Sir, the venue has been reserved for Second Young Master Jiang's wedding today. May I see your invitation?" The brawny security guard spoke politely on the surface, but his tone carried authority. With the Jiangjin Group backing him, he had little reason to be afraid of offending anyone.
"Sure." I didn't argue. After all, everyone else was chauffeured here in luxury cars. I was the only one who had walked.
"Apologies for the trouble. Please, go ahead."
"Huh? Aren't you Gao Jian?!" Just as I stepped inside, a man in a sharp suit ran over from the parking lot. "Can't believe you actually came to Jiang's wedding—haha, it's been ages!"
I didn't react much. The overly familiar guy was my police academy classmate, Xu Xiuming. He had always been slick and smooth-talking, good at making friends with everyone. Don't let his enthusiasm fool you—this was a guy who could act overjoyed to see a random beggar on the street.
"Hello." That one word was the longest sentence I'd spoken to him in years.
"Well, look who it is—our ex-brother-in-law, Gao Jian!" said a woman nearby. Her name was Zhang Yuanyuan, another academy classmate. Unlike Xu, she was the gossipy, loud-mouthed type that no one liked. I'd heard she married someone from another school right after graduation and was already a mom.
I frowned and walked away quickly, though my mind lingered on something strange. Zhang Yuanyuan was no one important. She had left Jiangcheng long ago. Why would she come all this way to attend Ye Bing's wedding? She had always been jealous of Ye Bing's looks—blessings weren't exactly her thing.
Unless... someone had invited her deliberately, offering a price she couldn't refuse.
It didn't take a genius to guess who: the petty groom himself, Jiangchen.
"Looks like this wedding's going to be interesting after all."
Inside the banquet hall, the seats were full. A quick glance revealed several corporate execs—real movers and shakers. You could see the calculating look in their eyes, the polished manners of businessmen.
This was less a wedding and more a networking event. Most guests were here for connections, not to sincerely wish the couple well.
"Gao Jian! Over here! We saved you a seat!" I heard someone call out.
In a quiet corner of the hall, two tables had been set aside—supposedly for me. Or rather, for us ex-classmates from the police academy.
The round tables were laid with delicate cold dishes. A dozen former classmates were exchanging pleasantries.
"I heard you bought a new place?"
"How old's your kid now?"
"Whoa, that watch must've cost a fortune."
I ignored the chatter and lit a cigarette.
Compared to them, I had nothing. And frankly, they were just background noise in my life.
But some people, unhappy with their own lives, started turning the conversation toward me. After all, what could be more pitiful than attending your ex's wedding with empty hands and empty pockets?
"Gao Jian, we haven't heard from you in years. What've you been up to?"
"Yeah, especially after... you know, that whole thing back then."
"Wonder if they ever caught the real killer."
They were talking about the infamous Rainy Night Serial Murders—a case that rocked Jiangcheng. I got into major trouble because of it, and ended up expelled from the academy.
"Alright, alright. Let's not bring up the past. Let's focus on the good stuff. Gao Jian used to be top of the class. Whatever he's doing now, I'm sure he's doing better than us."
"Really? I heard he sells... you know, those things. Barely scraping by."
"Seriously? No wonder Ye Bing left him. I wouldn't stay with a guy like that either. Look at Jiangchen—he's like a Korean drama lead: rich, handsome, and charming."
"Exactly. And let's not forget—the Jiang family basically runs half this city."
"Ye Bing really lucked out."
They whispered and laughed, half-envious of Ye Bing, half gloating at my expense.
I exhaled a puff of smoke. As a private investigator, I'd seen worse. I didn't bother arguing.
"Guess you've always been better with dead people than with the living, huh?" a teasing voice said next to me, accompanied by a faint, delicate scent.
"Tie Ningxiang?" I didn't even need to look. I'd long memorized her subtle, natural fragrance.
"You're here too? Thought the Anxin Hotel case was wrapped up."
I stubbed out my cigarette and turned. Even though I was mentally prepared, I was still stunned by what I saw.
She looked stunning.
Wearing a flowing dress, her fair shoulders bare, she radiated elegance. Out of uniform, Tie Ningxiang was a whole different kind of breathtaking—like a painting brought to life.
The men at the table went slack-jawed. The women stopped talking and glared daggers.
"Mind if I sit here for a moment? I need a word with him."
"S-Sure!" Xu Xiuming quickly stood and pulled out a chair like a gentleman.
Tie Ningxiang nodded and sat beside me. "Don't mind me. You guys keep chatting. It's just a little reunion, right?"
Yeah, right. With a woman like her sitting beside me, who had the nerve to keep talking?
Just a moment ago they were mocking me, saying Ye Bing was right to dump me. Now an even more beautiful woman—someone clearly out of everyone's league—had come to sit beside me. What the hell kind of luck was this guy riding?
The whispers returned, even louder this time.
"Sorry," Tie Ningxiang said playfully. "Mind if I borrow you for a second?"
"Not at all. Was bored anyway. But why are you at Ye Bing's wedding?"
"My family and the Jiang family go way back. Couldn't say no—my old man insisted."
She glanced around, then scooted closer and leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Xiaofeng, the goddaughter of the Anxin Hotel landlord, wants to see you."
"Her?" I'd expected her to have something serious to say, but not this.
"I don't know what went on between you two, but she specifically asked for you. Said there are things only you can hear." Tie Ningxiang narrowed her eyes like a sly fox. "You two aren't... involved, are you?"
Her expression was hard to read. I didn't mind her teasing, but the guys at the table were practically seething.
That was jealousy. That was pure envy.
Their goddess was clearly upset that this down-on-his-luck guy was at his ex's wedding.
Damn it—what does he have that I don't?
"You're overthinking it. I only met Xiaofeng once. Honestly, I probably spent more time with you than with her."
"Either way, I need you to come back to the station with me this afternoon. Call it a favor for your senior, alright?"
I rarely saw Tie Ningxiang asking for help. So I joked, "No problem. Just make sure when I get arrested one day, you'll pull some strings for me."
We were whispering not because of any intimacy, but because it involved a homicide case.
But of course, to our dear former classmates, it looked like something much spicier—and they were already deep into their own wild theories.