Chapter 119: Why Take It Seriously?

"Fragrance? A sensation of heat?"

Hearing these two keywords from Ye Zemao, Lu Yao immediately had her answer.

She asked one final question: "Was the fragrance on her, or was something burning on the table?"

Ye Zemao did not understand the motive behind her inquiry, but after a moment of intense reflection, he replied with certainty: "It wasn't her perfume, nor was it a candle. It was a bracelet she wore on her wrist. Throughout our conversation, she kept raising her hand near my nose."

A bracelet?

Lu Yao recalled her brief interaction with Sun Ying and remembered seeing no such accessory. This only served to confirm her suspicions.

"Third Young Master, I am going to pay the bail now. Please return to the old mansion with the Second Master. I will arrange an interview with Sun Ying tomorrow. If all goes as expected, she will choose to drop the charges." After organizing her notebook and belongings, Lu Yao spoke these words just as she reached the door.

Seeing the absolute confidence on her face, Ye Zemao offered a knowing smile, choosing to place his full faith in Lu Yao's capabilities.

Once the bail procedures were completed, Ye Zehong escorted Ye Zemao back to the Ye family residence.

Yang Lan rushed forward, clutching Ye Zemao’s hands, weeping with distress: "Zemao, look at you! You’ve lost so much weight; you look so haggard."

Ye Zemao offered a bitter smile, consoling her in turn: "Mother, please don’t worry. I’m fine. I believe Lu Yao will be able to clear my name."

Ye Hua stood to the side and asked anxiously: "Lu Yao, what is the situation now? Is there still a chance to win the Third Brother's case?"

Lu Yao caught something strange in the phrasing of Ye Hua’s question.

Right in front of everyone, she pointedly remarked: "Miss Ye, the judge hasn't even reached a verdict yet. Why have you already convicted the Third Young Master?"

"What? What are you babbling about!" Ye Hua reflected on her words, realizing she had used the word 'still,' and her expression turned deathly pale. "At a time like this, must you be so pedantic, Counselor Lu?"

"I have one hundred percent confidence that I can resolve this case," Lu Yao replied with a professional smile, her tone light. "Tomorrow, I will have Sun Ying drop the charges voluntarily. If nothing goes wrong, I will also make her issue a public apology to restore the Third Young Master’s reputation."

"What exactly do you have? How can you be so sure you can solve this?" Ye Hua pressed, unable to suppress her impatience.

"I have my own methods. You will see when the time comes," Lu Yao said with a confident smile.

"If you have a plan, tell us now so we can be prepared and offer our counsel to avoid any unnecessary mishaps," Ye Hua urged again.

"Miss Ye, you seem very anxious to know what evidence I possess to support my guarantee of a total resolution," Lu Yao asked probinglly. "Could it be that you are the mastermind behind the scenes?"

"Lu Yao, what kind of nonsense are you spouting? Zemao is my brother; how could I possibly harm him? What is your intent in trying to sow discord between us?" Ye Hua, flustered and indignant, snapped at Lu Yao impatiently.

Lu Yao chuckled softly: "I was only joking, Miss Ye. Why take it so seriously?"

Ye Hua’s face darkened completely. She glared at Lu Yao, gritting her teeth with a cold huff: "Is this really the time for jokes?"

"Hua, stop arguing with the counselor," Yang Lan intervened, sensing that Ye Hua was behaving uncharacteristically that evening.

Ye Hua ignored her, wanting to lash out at Lu Yao once more, but she froze as she met Lu Yao’s gaze. Lu Yao wore an unsettling smile, and her voice, though soft and airy, struck Ye Hua’s heart like a heavy blow.

Lu Yao whispered: "Miss Ye, why do you seem so guilty?"