Back to the Past: The Rise of the False Heiress Marrying the True Tycoon
Chapter 1196: Clues

Chapter 1196: Clues

Captain He’s voice crackled through the line, crisp and businesslike as always.

“We followed the lead provided by Gu Zi and contacted the police bureau in the capital. After tracing Lin Miao’s spending records post-arrival, we found a peculiar unpaid transaction with no clear destination. Typically, only underground casinos or black market deals are that discreet. It’s a major clue—we’re planning to investigate in that direction.”

Su Shen furrowed his brows, his tone edged with skepticism. “Then why are you calling me? Shouldn’t you be out chasing this lead? What’s the point of telling me all this?”

It was a fair question—he couldn’t imagine why this warranted a phone call.

Captain He chuckled, sounding a little too pleased with himself.

“I’m calling because I want you to pass the message along to Gu Zi. Maybe she can help us analyze it. After all, she’s faced off with Lin Miao so many times—she must know her inside out. If anyone can guess whether Lin Miao’s more likely to hit a casino or the black market, it’s her. It’ll help us crack the case faster.”

Su Shen genuinely believed that if Gu Zi weren’t pregnant, she’d have solved the case herself by now. That brain of hers was brilliant. He couldn’t help the note of pride in his voice.

“All right, I’ll let her know.”

Gu Zi had been sitting quietly beside him the whole time, observing his expression with curiosity. As soon as he ended the call, she tilted her head. “Did Captain He need something from me?”

He helped her onto the sofa, his motions tender and precise, before summarizing the phone conversation.

Gu Zi listened carefully, her brows drawing slightly together in thought.

“Between the casino and the black market,” she murmured, “I’d say the black market seems more plausible. But what could she want there?” She looked up. “Su Shen, what exactly can you get on the black market?”

Su Shen considered the question for a moment before answering with quiet authority. “The black market’s always got a power player pulling the strings from behind the scenes. You can buy almost anything, but the most common items are firearms, ammunition, drugs, and illegal pharmaceuticals. Why? What are you thinking?”

Gu Zi’s gaze turned distant, her mind clearly churning.

Guns? She could rule that out.

Drugs? Lin Miao may have gone off the rails, but not that far.

Illegal pharmaceuticals… now that was possible.

A sudden thought seized her.

“Su Shen, think about it. What if Gu Shan didn’t get poisoned from the soup at all? What if the symptoms that looked like food poisoning were actually caused by some kind of drug—one that mimics those symptoms?”

Su Shen’s eyes lit up, a flash of realization breaking through. That was very possible.

Captain He had been right—talking to Gu Zi was helpful.

His tone turned serious. “Could be. In fact, I have a friend in the capital with connections to the black market. Sit tight. I’ll call him right now and see what he can find.”

With that, he strode over to the phone, lifted the receiver with purposeful grace, and dialed a number swiftly from memory.

As he waited, eyes locked on the phone, lips pursed in quiet focus, he exuded the calm intensity of a man who never took Gu Zi’s concerns lightly.

Meanwhile, across town, Lin Miao stood face-to-face with Li Li, the tension between them almost visible in the air. Lin Miao’s voice was cold and determined. “You need to take the child and leave Guangcheng. For good. You can’t show your face here again.”

The food poisoning plot—only Gu Shan, Zhang Mei, and Li Li knew about it. She could deal with Gu Shan and Zhang Mei, but Li Li was a variable she couldn’t afford. She had to go.

Predictably, Li Li was having none of it.

“You can’t back out now, Lin Miao,” she snapped. “You were the one who came to me in the first place. You promised me fair treatment, and that my son would be the Gu family’s little prince. I’m not going anywhere.”

Lin Miao’s eyes darkened, a flash of murderous intent surfacing—but only for a fleeting second. She couldn’t kill Li Li. That would ruin everything. She had to talk her into leaving.

And in that moment, the truth sank in like a weight in her chest: she had never been cut out to be an independent, empowered woman. Not in her last life. And certainly not now. She’d deluded herself into thinking rebirth made her invincible—but that fantasy had only led her to ruin.

Still, it wasn’t too late. If Li Li took the child and left, and if Gu Shan and Zhang Mei took the fall, it would only mean a few years in prison at most. The matter would blow over. Her name would remain intact. And she could finally try to win back Gong Zhan.

From that moment forward, she would never cross Gu Zi or the Lin family again. She’d lead a quiet, clean life.

But first—Li Li had to go.

She straightened, resolve hardening in her eyes. “You must leave. Tell me—what will it take? What do you want in exchange?”

Li Li folded her arms. “I want money. Enough to secure a decent life for me and my son. And one more thing—if all this blows over, you have to make sure my son still becomes the Gu family heir. I’ll leave and never come back—but he won’t.”

Lin Miao took a deep breath, calming the whirlwind of panic inside. No matter what, she had to get Li Li out first.

“Fine,” she agreed. “But before you go, there’s one last thing I need you to do for me.”