<h4>Chapter 16: Chapter 15: Birthday Banquet</h4>


    The next day.


    The sun was shining brightly, nearing noon, with people gradually arriving at the Lyle Family’s old residence.


    Elliana Lyle didn’t go out to greet the guests; she stayed indoors chatting andughing with Joy Lyle, as Ada Lee had already fully taken over that task.


    The morning was indeed thrilling; she was falsely used by her aunt early in the morning, iming she was indiscreetly sleeping in the same room as Norman Bet.


    The old woman, with her conservative mindset, predictably got furious, scolding Elliana indiscriminately. The words that came out were quite amusing.


    Normally a kind-looking olddy, she could also utter insults like "slutty vixen."


    Fortunately, she slept with her motherst night, and Aunt Wu, who was sent by the olddy to take care of her mother, testified for her, settling the matter.


    Yet the olddy showed no remorse, treating the incident as if it hadn’t happened.


    "Elliana, you’ve been through a lot, but Grandma didn’t intend to drive me away today." Joy’s voice was gentle, like the continuous drizzle in Jiangnan.


    Elliana heard this and smiled lightly, then deliberately furrowed her brows in thought, before asking with a chuckle, "What reward should you give me, sis?"


    "Elliana, you can have whatever you want, as long as I have it." Joy always spoke tenderly, her smile delicate and beautiful.


    Elliana had already prepared several excuses yesterday, because one of the actors for South Wind Song was an esteemed veteran artist.


    This man’s name was Qin Xian, a bright film star from the olddy’s era, and when she learned that Joy was acting with Qin Xian and ying a righteous character, her opinion of Joy improved considerably.


    Previously, Joy only yed small roles, mostmonly as a courtesan, and identally rose to fame through one role.


    Of course, this wasn’t the main reason the olddy disliked Joy; it was mainly because of Joy dropping out of school.


    She left a good military school before graduating to be an actor. Elliana wasn’t surprised, as Joy had often shared her dreams of acting when they yed together as children.


    Knock, knock knock.


    "Joy, Elliana, the guests are almost here. You need to appear at the 12 o’clock banquet. Get ready." Phoebe Lyle knocked on the door but didn’t mean toe inside. After her voice fell, the sound of high heels leaving was heard.


    Joy looked at Elliana, who was still in a loose sports outfit, helplessly urging, "Quickly change into the dress you brought, otherwise, we’ll really bete."


    Noon at 12.


    The birthday banquet officially began.


    Thirty tables were set up in the reception hall, with a stage arranged at the front where Belle King specially invited the old star Hui Mingfang to offer birthday wishes to the olddy.


    Today the olddy dressed elegantly, her outfit befitting her status—a sapphire cheongsam paired with jade earrings from her aunt and an imperial green jade ne from her aunt-inw.


    Elliana’s mother gifted a yellow jade bracelet, which was then seen on Ada Lee’s hand.


    As soon as the Lyle Family appeared, Norman Bet’s gaze focused on one person.


    The beauty with snowy skin, dazzling like a sky full of stars, naturally drew many people’s attention.


    The olddy was satisfied with Elliana’s appearance today, being presentable enough.


    Elliana was uninterested in the birthday banquet, watching Ada Lee, wondering what she might be up to.


    Indeed, Ada Lee was quite a rare beauty herself, her fishtail dress enveloping her shapely figure, her painted brows carrying a hint of allure.


    And in terms of height, Ada Lee naturally overshadowed her.


    After paying her respects to the olddy, Elliana remained focused on Ada Lee, guarding against any trouble she might stir up.


    Up to the afternoon cocktail party, Ada Lee seemed calm, politely chatting with somedies from distinguished families.


    Enough was enough; Elliana felt a headache from keeping an eye on her, saying to Joy, "Sis, I’ll be right back," pointing towards Norman Bet’s direction.


    "Alright, go ahead," Joy smiled softly.


    A certain young girl took a ss of champagne and walked slowly towards the group Norman Bet was chatting with.


    There were truly few people who genuinely came to bless the elder on her birthday; most wanted to take this chance to establish connections.


    After all, Norman Bet wasn’t someone you could meet just because you wanted to.


    The guests the Lyle Family invited this time were all from Belle King’s handwritten invitations, excluding the necessary few noble families; most were her family’s unscrupulous rtives.


    In principle, these people shouldn’t have been invited. For a major family gathering like this, it was not only a banquet but also aboutworking.


    Norman Bet had kept a cold face throughout as he drank, his handsome visage like eternal frost, finding the crowd noisy. If they were talking about business, perhaps he could engage with them.


    Watching Elliana approach from afar, Norman Bet put down his wine ss, stood up, and said, "Excuse me," before moving through the crowd towards Elliana.


    With Norman Bet’s departure, no one dared to stop him. Raymond Wood, the assistant who came along, had been following his CEO closely, but with the CEO being with Elliana, he also felt awkward to continue following.


    Yet now, Raymond was encircled by a group of people.


    "Norman Bet, you’re quite popr, huh?" Elliana teased.


    Norman Bet didn’t reply, simply snatching the champagne from the young girl’s hand, and reminded her, "No drinking."


    Elliana furrowed her brows in dissatisfaction, "I’m already 20."


    "No." Norman Bet said, cing the champagne on the table, and taking Elliana to sit in a quieter ce.


    "The police have released Adrian Young and Luna due to insufficient evidence." Norman Bet spoke with a heavy tone, yet particrly concerned.


    He feared Elliana wouldn’t be able to handle it.


    Elliana was indeed shocked, even though there weren’t enough concrete murder evidence, they shouldn’t have been released so quickly.


    Seeing the young girl not speaking, biting her teeth in anger, he exined, "Currently, there’s no evidence to prove it’s murder, and Aunt didn’t suffer significant injuries. If we insist on convicting now, it would at most be an intentional assault charge, which wouldn’t lead to a long sentence, and the matter can only be settled like this."


    Watching her sombre expression, she remained silent. Norman Bet gently touched her head,forting her, "Don’t worry, I won’t let them get away scot-free."


    "Mm." Elliana exhaled a breath and merely nodded, suddenly recalling the call from the detective two days ago. Although not entirely credible, she still wanted to find another person to help.


    She said to Norman Bet, "I’m going to the restroom."


    "Alright."


    Every interaction between them was observed by Ada Lee, who lowered hershes, feeling odd. Clearly,st time Elliana and Norman Bet had quarreled fiercely; why was it different now?


    "Sister Ada, what are you looking at?" The voice belonged to Lan Cheng, beautifully spirited; her father was in finance and had long held a good rtionship with the Lyle Family.


    Ada Lee smiled warmly, not revealing much, and downed her champagne, nodding slightly to a few people, "Excuse me."


    ...


    Inside the restroom, Elliana dialed the previous number.


    "Hello, nice to speak to you."


    "Is this Ms. Kitty? So, have you decided?" The voice on the other end carried a hint of fatigue yet maintained arrogance.


    Elliana sensed this person might be simr to a domineering woman.


    "Yes, I want to investigate the criminal evidence of three individuals." Elliana believed those three wouldn’t have done just one thing.


    "Add my WeChat, I’ll text you." As soon as the voice dropped, the call ended.


    Following the text instructions, Elliana sessfully added the other’s WeChat, whose username was Love Detective Agency, with a ck logo as the profile image.


    Love Detective Agency: "Hello, you can call me Luna, please provide me with the names, former addresses, and former phone numbers of those you want to investigate."


    Elliana sent just names, license te numbers, and a welfare organization’s name. These three had a background as orphans from a welfare institution.


    Luna: "30,000."


    How... outrageous.


    Elliana didn’t haggle, directly transferring the payment, and Luna acknowledged receipt and stated, "This is just the initial price. Depending on theplexity, I may ask for more."