Cherish You as My Life - Chapter 31.1

Chapter 31.1

Jiang Wei booked a cruise ship for her banquet.

Dressed in a sleek black evening gown, she looked elegant, and her pearl earrings and hairstyle emphasised her beauty.

Standing in front of the mirror, she adjusted her gown, revealing a hint of cleavage that was undeniably alluring. From a young age, she understood the power of beauty—it could provide her with food, a cosy place to sleep, and a way to dodge danger.

As she matured, she understood the significance of her beauty. Living in the glitzy world of entertainment, she realised no man could resist her charm, except for Ji Yao.

The head of the criminal investigation team barely acknowledged her presence, and when he did glance her way, it was filled with disdain.

This really sparked her competitive spirit. It had been ages since she faced someone who could challenge her.

She was aware that he was suspecting her of being Wang Xiaoning’s killer and that he had been looking into her. Yet, the thrill of the danger he posed was both exciting and addictive.

Although she knew that he didn’t like her, she truly wanted to prove that her beauty was unbeatable. 

Jiang Wei applied her lipstick and stepped out of the dressing room with a satisfied smile.

She kept her guest list small, inviting just a few acquaintances and some business partners.

Ji Yao stood on the deck of the cruise ship and looked at the water.

Seeing him, Jiang Wei was delighted, and she approached the man with a sluttery smile. “Ji Shao, what’s caught your attention?” 

Ji Yao turned to her and replied, “Oh, nothing much. Just reminiscing about fishing with my dad by the river when I was a kid. Oh, I heard that Miss Jiang is from H Province, XX City. They have this really tasty big-headed snakehead fish there, right?”

Jiang Wei smiled and said, “Yeah.”

Knowing that the woman was caught in his trap, Ji Yao flashed a smile. No such fish in that area, and he was just testing her.

“It’s pretty windy and a bit chilly.” Wrapping her arms around her, Jiang Wei shifted the topic.

The reason behind that was because she saw a coat Ji Yao had draped over his arm.

“Yeah, I feel a bit cold too.” As he didn’t understand Jiang Wei’s hint, Ji Yao wore the coat.

Jiang Wei was left speechless.

The waiter nearby shot a glance at Ji Yao, disbelieving. ‘Why isn’t this guy following the rules? He has such a lovely woman shivering next to him, and he puts the coat on himself instead.’

Ji Yao settled into a corner on the yacht.

Although he looked like he was just relaxing, actually he was observing the guests and the staff.

He suspected that the person secretly helping Jiang Wei in her darker deeds might be among them because he had a hunch that he or she would definitely show up at Jiang Wei’s birthday dinner.

Jiang Wei sat across from Ji Yao, holding a glass of wine. “Mr Ji, you didn’t come here empty-handed, did you?” 

In reality, Ji Yao had nothing to offer, so to avoid being kicked off the yacht, he plucked a carnation from the vase in front of him and handed it to her. “Happy birthday.”

Jiang Wei accepted it and took a sniff. “Thank you.”

Then she looked at the man with stars in her eyes. “This is the best birthday gift I have received this year. It is more precious than those rubies and sapphires they gave me.”

‘This woman can tell lies with her eyes open.’ Ji Yao, who had a clear understanding of the woman, sneered in his heart. “Then you are very different, different from those coquettish and slutty girls I know. They only like vulgar jewellery, but you are the only one who is pure and untainted.”

Jiang Wei was used to relying on her beauty for her success and often displayed a sense of arrogance. She had received so many flattering remarks that she failed to recognise the sarcasm in Ji Yao’s words.

With a smile, she lifted her glass and toasted with Ji Yao, saying, “Thank you; I’m truly delighted.”

After a short while, the waiter presented the cake, and everyone gathered around.

As the birthday song was sung, Jiang Wei stood at the centre, made a wish, blew out the candles, and cut the cake.

Everything seemed to happen without any accident, but Ji Yao’s sharp eyes noticed a slightly hunched waiter secretly taking away a small piece of cake that had been cut and placed on a plate while no one was watching. 

‘This person is definitely not a waiter. If I didn’t see him taking the piece of cake, I would not suspect him.’

Ji Yao followed the waiter, but he vanished as soon as he exited the cabin. It was just like he disappeared into thin air. Unconvinced, Ji Yao searched everywhere and even enquired with the cruise ship’s duty manager.

The manager said that they served the rich and powerful clients, and the waiters they recruited were all well-mannered in appearance. Apart from anything else, they must be in good spirits, and they would never hire someone with a hunchback.

When Ji Yao showed his police ID, the manager on duty pulled up the information of all the waiters on the ship from the computer. Ji Yao looked at them one by one.

‘Sure enough, he is not a waiter. He just sneaked in specifically to celebrate Jiang Wei’s birthday. But why would he sneak in like that? There must be something fishy.’

Have a nice day!