"Detective Lin?!!!"
Before Madam Shangguan could recover, Wu Suowei suddenly shrieked as if he had seen a ghost, clutching his head.
"Wu Suowei, long time no see. You've really gotten quite capable.
You claim to be second to none, and no one dares claim first?
How come I never knew you became so formidable?"
"Detective Lin, please don't tease me!
Who in Daowai doesn't know that Detective Lin is the true master of picking locks and prying doors?
With my meager skills, how could I dare to show off in front of you!"
Wu Suowei's overly exaggerated flattery stunned everyone.
One of the locksmiths in the crowd suddenly exclaimed, "Eh?"
"I remember now!
There was once a phantom thief in Daowai who was said to never fail. From breaking into homes to picking pockets,
No matter who was targeted by that phantom thief, there was nothing they couldn't steal!
And the most amazing part was that the victims wouldn't discover they had been robbed until much later."
"This young man looks so respectable, and he's actually a thief?"
Seeing the crowd pointing fingers at Lin Qingge, Wu Suowei quickly stepped forward to clarify:
"No, no, no! Detective Lin is the only one who made my master falter, which led him to hang up his tools. He's an incredible presence!
And by the way, the phantom thief you just mentioned was my master.
After my master was defeated by Detective Lin, he retired from the martial world. He had nothing better to do than to spar with Detective Lin, and they even developed a sense of mutual admiration.
In the end, he passed on all his lifelong skills to Detective Lin.
So, when it comes to picking locks and prying doors, Detective Lin is number one, and I can only honestly rank second!"
Madam Shangguan glanced at Wu Suowei, who changed his tune faster than flipping a book, and snorted displeasuredly:
"I don't care who is first or second.
Just open the safe for me quickly!"
However, Yan Tinghao heard this and was quite displeased:
"Madam Shangguan, are your ears not working well? My boss asked you to pay."
"Who do you think you are? Why should I pay just because he tells me to?"
At this moment, Leng Ningyue walked over and handed a check to Lin Qingge:
"Here's ten thousand silver dollars. Please take it."
"Senior Sister Leng, how can I accept your money?"
Lin Qingge refused without thinking, but Leng Ningyue shoved the check into her hand.
"Our Leng family has always kept our word. Although she only lives with the Leng family, she lived with my father for many years.
To avoid people from laughing at my Leng family, who has been in business for a hundred years, for lacking the most basic integrity, you must accept this check."
With such a heavy implication from Leng Ningyue, Lin Qingge had to retract her extended hand. Madam Shangguan, however, was furious.
"You're giving him ten thousand silver dollars? How dare you give him ten thousand silver dollars?
This is my husband's money!
This is the money my husband left for us, mother and daughter!"
Madam Shangguan's matter-of-fact tone drew sideways glances from everyone.
Butler Wang Bo stepped forward and reminded her in a rather respectful tone:
"Madam, the eldest daughter is the daughter of Master and the first wife, and she is one of the owners of this house."
"Butler, your words are not entirely accurate. Miss Leng is not one of the owners of this house.
According to the will left by the late Master Shangguan, Miss Leng is the sole heir to Master Shangguan's estate~
In other words, Miss Leng is the true owner of this house right now~"
Hua Jinrong said, waving the will in her hand.
It was only then that everyone belatedly noticed that the previously impenetrable safe was now wide open!
"Tsk, what a fuss over nothing!
How could a mere safe possibly stump my resourceful boss?"
Yan Tinghao's chin was raised high, his back straightened, wearing a proud expression of shared glory.
It turned out that while everyone's attention was diverted by Wu Suowei, Lin Qingge calmly approached the safe and, in a few quick movements, effortlessly opened the safe that had stumped everyone!
"H-how is this possible?"
Compared to Madam Shangguan's look of disbelief, Wu Suowei beamed with a smile and praised:
"As expected of Detective Lin! Once you make a move, there's no lock in this world you can't break!"
"Don't lump me in with you, a repeat offender who never learns.
If I find out you're out here stealing again, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your master!"
Seeing Lin Qingge issue a stern warning, Wu Suowei quickly changed the subject:
"Detective Lin, how did you open the safe so stealthily?"
Lin Qingge kicked Wu Suowei and said impatiently:
"What do you mean 'stealthily'? Do you think everyone is like you?
Listen up!
For a well-made safe like this, forcing it open is the last resort.
Master Shangguan was advanced in age, and only he knew the password to such an important safe.
Just in case, he would have certainly left some clues.
This way, it could serve as a reminder to himself, and also as a hint to his descendants in case of an accident.
After all, the Shangguan family's most valuable real estate deeds are in that safe.
I found some disorganized chess terms on the back of the cover of Master Shangguan's desk notebook.
Combined with the subtle wear on the dial, I only had to try three times to open the safe."
"Brilliant, truly brilliant!"
"Stop with the flattery. How many times have I told you, picking locks relies on your brain first, and then your skill.
Also, have you taken up the job I found for you recently?
The shopkeeper complained yesterday that the person they found was unreliable?"
While Lin Qingge was reprimanding Wu Suowei, Madam Shangguan snatched the will from Hua Jinrong and eagerly flipped through it. Then, she suddenly went into hysterics, screaming:
"Impossible!
This is impossible!
My husband wouldn't leave his entire fortune to that bastard!
This will must have been tampered with!"
"Madam Shangguan, watch your mouth. Who are you calling a bastard?"
"Bastard called you..."
As soon as Madam Shangguan spoke, she realized her mistake and glared at the person who had responded, "Why are you, a detective who just talks and scams people everywhere, interfering in our Shangguan family's affairs?"
"Mother, please don't be angry. Detective Lin calls Sister 'Senior Sister Leng,' and they know each other. It's understandable that she can't help but speak up for Sister."
Hearing Shangguan Yuyan's seemingly劝阻 (persuasion) but actually火上浇油 (adding fuel to the fire) words, Madam Shangguan became even more enraged.
"What 'Senior Sister'? I think she's just been enchanted by that little vixen.
By the way, didn't he just open the safe?
He must have replaced the will inside the safe when none of us were looking!"
"Madam Shangguan, you're making accusations without evidence.
A will requires a signature and thumbprint from the person themselves. If you question the authenticity of this will, you can always find professionals to verify it."
Seeing Lin Qingge being reprimanded by Madam Shangguan, Lin Yan, who was a lawyer, stepped forward:
"There's no need for such trouble. I can confirm that this is indeed the will personally signed by the late Master Shangguan."