Read Chapter 12: — THE FORGERY HOUSE

The trail led through Mufeng's father.

Late one night, Mufeng followed Mingtao after he received a mysterious call to deliver a painting. The route ended at a secluded building near the river.

Mufeng entered after him and was captured almost immediately.

He woke tied to a chair.

Yonghe's voice came from somewhere in the darkness.

"Li Mufeng?"

He struck his head against the floor so she would know he was alive.

The men holding them were Chang Jianqing and Lu Yunqiang, employees of a forgery network run by gallery owner Hu Jinrong. Yonghe had come to Suzhou with Wu Siqin to investigate the ring after forged works damaged people close to her family. Her gallery was real. So was her interest in art. The secrecy, the trained movements, the dangerous acquaintances—those belonged to the investigation.

Mufeng felt relief and anger in equal measure.

"You could have told me."

"You thought I was a criminal."

"I was considering multiple hypotheses."

"You considered the stupidest one first."

Their captors demanded that Mufeng complete paintings that could be aged and passed as old masters. He pretended to cooperate.

He insisted on traditional gamboge pigment, claiming modern yellow would expose the forgery. The demand bought time and gave him access to tools.

More importantly, he scratched a message using the pigment onto a scrap that he managed to leave where Qiu Bin might recognise it. Years earlier, Qiu Bin had nearly poisoned himself while experimenting with the same old pigment in his grandfather's studio. The memory was unforgettable.

Qiu Bin understood the clue.

Before help arrived, Mufeng broke a porcelain plate and attacked Lu. The escape turned chaotic. Yonghe freed herself. Chang pursued them to the river.

Mufeng entered the water with a knife wound in his thigh.

Chang followed.

In the darkness, Mufeng heard Yonghe disappear beneath the surface.

He dived after her.

For a terrible few seconds he found only cold water and blood.

Then his hand closed around hers.

"I'm here," he said when they broke the surface.

She could barely breathe.

"I know."

Police lights appeared along the bank.

Later, when Hu Jinrong and the rest of the forgery network were arrested, Mufeng apologised for doubting her.

Yonghe answered, "You should."

Then she kissed him.

It was not a dramatic kiss. It was exhausted, angry, brief and absolutely real.

Mufeng decided he preferred reality.