Yue Linze chuckled, diverting some of his attention to them.

In Yue Linying’s room, Tao Yu, increasingly anxious at not finding anything, abandoned all pretense of caution and began frantically ransacking the room, quickly turning it into a chaotic mess.

During her search, she discovered numerous cameras and strange devices. She knew her actions were being recorded, but thankfully, Yue Linying, a thief in the night himself, wouldn’t dare connect the system to the police. She didn’t have to worry about being arrested.

After several fruitless searches, she collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted. She'd considered lying on the floor but the room was littered with equipment, each a potential source of an unflattering photo.

As she rested, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. In a flash of inspiration, she jumped up and locked it just as someone tried the handle.

Unable to open the door, Zhou Yanran snapped at the person behind her, “Get the spare key! And remember, don’t let anyone else know.”

Hearing Zhou Yanran’s voice, Tao Yu tensed, her instinct to hide warring with the urgent need to eliminate Yue Linze’s negative energy. With a grimace, she resumed her search.

Outside, Zhou Yanran easily heard the commotion within, her anxiety mounting as she urged the person fetching the key to hurry.

After searching everywhere else, Tao Yu’s gaze finally settled on the sofa she’d just been sitting on. Doubting Yue Linying would hide something so obvious, she nonetheless began searching it.

Flipping the sofa over, she discovered a hidden compartment underneath. Her eyes lit up. Seeing the compartment was locked, she slammed it against the floor.

As the box shattered and its contents spilled out, the door swung open and Zhou Yanran strode in, her face cold.

Tao Yu quickly scooped up the contents. The object was too large to conceal, and Zhou Yanran saw it immediately. “You again! What did you steal? Hand it over!”

“It’s nothing. It’s mine,” Tao Yu clutched the object tighter, her eyes darting towards the door, looking for an escape route.

Seeing her intent, Zhou Yanran immediately ordered the door closed. She was accompanied by four or five strong men, while Tao Yu was alone. The odds were clear.

“Take it from her,” she said, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. “And then invite Miss Tao to sit down. I have a few scores to settle with her.”

Tao Yu’s heart lurched. Discarding all thoughts of professional image and elegant composure, she darted around like a monkey, refusing to relinquish her prize. But outnumbered and overpowered, she was soon cornered.

If the object fell into Zhou Yanran’s hands, all her efforts would be wasted, and who knew when Yue Linze's negative energy would dissipate. Looking at the approaching men, she gritted her teeth, threw the object to the ground, and stomped on it repeatedly with her high heels, trying to shatter it.

Seeing Zhou Yanran’s horrified reaction, Tao Yu let out two triumphant, mocking laughs. “I’d rather destroy it than let you have it!”

“Fine! You dare destroy Linying’s things…” Zhou Yanran seethed, advancing towards her.

Meanwhile, as the housekeeper hurried out the window, Yue Linze, noticing Zhou Yanran’s prolonged absence, left the main hall with a grim expression, just in time to encounter the running housekeeper.

Without a word, they both headed towards the back of the house. At the same time, Yue Linying, seizing an opportunity while the bodyguards were distracted, escaped from the room he’d been confined in and ran straight to his bedroom.

They all converged at the bedroom door just as Zhou Yanran emerged. Seeing them, she feigned surprise. “What are you all doing here? The main hall is empty. Hurry back.”

The tension that had gripped Yue Linying instantly dissipated. He took Zhou Yanran’s hand in a gesture of gratitude. She glanced at him, secretly pleased she’d been able to help.

“Where’s Tao Yu?” Yue Linze asked coldly.

Zhou Yanran looked bewildered. “I don’t know. Isn’t she at the cocktail party?”