The male supporting character was actually myself.

Over the years, you haven't had a single true friend besides those who lust after your beauty.

In this chaotic world, even after traveling thousands of miles from the capital to the most chaotic port area of ​​Sentis, Amherst County, Finnan, one cannot find a job as a tutor or piano teacher and is forced to take a job as a cleaning lady with the lowest pay.

How pitiful.

If you find this salary insufficient to live on, I can help you find two part-time jobs.

After all, it only takes them two hours a day to clean our room.

You can work as a kitchen helper at the 'Hao Zai Lai' restaurant from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM;

I wash my clothes at the laundry shop from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

So, it's not too tiring a day, and you can earn at least five pounds a month.

That's enough to make you very comfortable here.

Bella's smile was slightly awkward as she turned her gaze to the small boat floating on the river, a cigarette between her fingers. "Thank you, Mr. Owen, but I probably don't need the part-time job for now."

What I mean is, I'm looking for a job that's easier, includes room and board, and pays a higher salary—like a piano teacher or a private tutor.

After all, I was an excellent student when I was in school, and I also studied various courses such as piano, art, etiquette, etc. I even held an art exhibition in the capital before.

Does Mr. Irving like to draw?

Or...music?

If your bar needs someone to sing in the evening, don't forget me.

My singing voice can easily break people's hearts.

Jiang Chen shrugged and laughed, "You're wrong again. Blue Shell Bar belongs to Joyce, it's not under my jurisdiction."

Perhaps I can ask around for you.

There are fishing boats coming from over there. If you want to buy fresh fish, you can go and take a look.

Let's head back early after we buy our things; the Finnan port area isn't safe after dark.

Bella, carrying a basket, stumbled toward the fishing boat, her expression turning serious as she turned around.

Completely different from the information we had previously received, this Daniel Irving is no naive fool!

"Tsk tsk tsk, host, you should have played along with her just now." The little white cat shook its head and clicked its tongue. "It's such a cliché character. First, she relies on her looks, then she plays the victim. In reality, she doesn't tell a single truth."

The updated list of people after the conversation showed that Bella Wasor was just an alias.

She came from the capital, her father was a senior inspector, and she lost her mother at a young age.

When Bella was sixteen and going through her rebellious phase, she fell in love with a mob boss in the capital. She was so love-struck that she only cared about dating and nothing else, which led her to break with her father and follow the mob boss around.

Her father was later killed while cracking down on gangs, which devastated her. She then changed her persona and vowed to wipe out all gangs!

"This is all the information we have for now. I feel that Bella's character is a contradiction and a bit conflicted."

Lacking maternal love, he rebelled against his father, only to regret it after his father's death and choose to fight against the gang. It's nothing more than regretting his actions and finding a reason to make the gang pay.

Such contradictory character traits are usually very attractive to the protagonist, who wants to conquer them.

It's hard to say what they were after; it's like they were all at odds with themselves. They were attracted to each other, entangled, and torn between love and hate, but ultimately, none of them met a good end.

After reading the documents, Jiang Chen threw the lit cigarette the other person handed him into the river and slowly walked back along the riverbank.

The little white cat was completely confused. "Then... is there anything I can do to help?"

"Keep a close eye on her and report back if anything happens."

"Alright!" The little white cat hopped and skipped onto Bella's shoulder as she picked out fish in the crowd, and squatted down to lick its fur.

Night falls.

Jiang Chen walked down the foggy, dimly lit, and chaotic street. Every time he passed a section of the street, the people there would instantly fall silent.

Men who could still remain sober would place their hands on their hats and respectfully greet him, "Hello, Mr. Owen"; the prostitutes would stop flirting, quietly apologize, and then retreat to the side of the street.

He walked into the noisy Blue Shell Bar with a cigarette in his mouth and his hands in his pockets.

"Good evening, Mr. Owen." The crowd seemed to pause, glancing at him with slightly fearful eyes. John, the bartender, greeted him, and Jiang Chen nodded, pushing open the door to the reception room. Only then did the atmosphere outside begin to liven up again.

Joyce was sitting in his favorite spot, flipping through a map. When he saw him come in, he casually said, "I heard you met Bella by the river this evening. How did your conversation go?"

April and Susanna, who were writing something, both looked over when they heard this.

Jiang Chen sat down and brought himself a glass of wine, "Just like the characters in those old-fashioned stories."

Using her beauty to attract attention;

Pretending to be coincidental and creating a chance encounter;

They fabricated their backgrounds to elicit sympathy and play the victim.

If I had to give my opinion—her acting was alright, but the story was too cliché and illogical.

Now we just need to see who she meets with, and who exactly placed her among us.

“Who do you think it could be?” April asked gravely. “I’ve checked what she said, and it basically matches up! I even found her father’s name in the company list she provided!”

Joyce laughed, her shoulders shaking slightly. "I guess it must have been a company that went bankrupt during a period of internal strife."

"Ah, that's true."

Susanna asked curiously, "Does that mean companies that have gone bankrupt are not trustworthy?"

“No, that’s not it.” Joyce patiently explained, playing with the pen in her hand: “If it’s an operating company, it usually comes with a phone number. You can just call and ask to find out if the person actually exists.”

But if the company goes bankrupt, they can falsify the documents.

Add a person or simply change a name.

Because we usually query recorded information, which requires sending a telegram from the capital, they simply copy it from the records.

There's a lot of room for manipulation if you use fake identity information.

Susanna turned to Jiang Chen and asked, "Daniel, whose side do you think she is on?"

"It might be related to the fake police who tried to kidnap Joyce," Jiang Chen guessed. "They won't give up. If they don't come knocking on our door again in the next couple of days, we'd better be careful when we go out."

April frowned, flicking her cigarette ash. "What's the deal with those fake policemen? What brings them here?"

“Who knows?” Joyce interrupted, handing the map to Jiang Chen. “This is the information I drew that you need. Susanna is copying down the rest of the details for you.”

“Look at me, Joyce. Are you sure you have nothing to say?” April asked, staring into his eyes. “The Owen family has always been open and aboveboard, never hiding anything. There’s nothing to hide about the fake cop trying to kidnap you?”

Joyce looked at him, blinked her deep eyes, and shook her head, saying, "No, darling."

Chapter Fifteen: An Unexpected Invitation

According to the gang distribution map compiled by Joyce, there are seven or eight large and small gangs scattered throughout the entire Finnan port area alone, among which the Owen family is the largest and most deeply rooted.

After carefully comparing the map, Jiang Chen marked the order of the three nearby small gangs.

These groups are all located right next to the Owen family's sphere of influence, and their main businesses are prostitution, gambling, and drugs. There is even a small group that specializes in robbery, and they have been entrenched in a small area by the river for many years. They are well-equipped and ruthless.

They are also a powerful force that robs smuggling ships.

After all, it's a job that matches your major, and you're in a favorable position, so your success rate is very high.

"Everything is ready now, we just need the right opportunity. We'll start taking action after we get back from the Central Avenue horse race next Saturday." Jiang Chen wrote a few notes and handed them over.

Joyce raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I like your reason for starting the war, Daniel. It makes perfect sense. Even if we can't reach an agreement with Anderson, those fake police officers can't do anything to us if they report it."

"Now it depends on whether Anderson wants to cooperate."

The next evening, after Lucy helped serve the sumptuous dinner and distributed the cutlery, she recounted her conversation with the cleaning lady.

“Hmm, it’s the same old routine Daniel mentioned.” Joyce shook her head as she flipped through the newspaper, her interest waning. “Over the years, I’ve seen too many women trying to marry into the Owen family, showcasing their charm in every way.”

Some are kind and give alms to elderly beggars every day on the road we must pass;

Some are so kind that even an injured rabbit can bring them to tears;

Some are aloof and indifferent to everyone they meet;

Some are brave enough to even join gang fights;

Some are humorous, making witty remarks that make everyone laugh;

Some are strong, telling others about their tragic past while smiling and saying how hard they've worked;

Others are more refined, such as soulful singers, melancholic painters, or even musicians and dancers...

Well, perhaps they felt that only by relying on their inner selves could they truly move a man who had suffered from war and violence, becoming a ray of holy light for him and saving him from the abyss.

But actually, all I care about is whether their faces are pretty, how big their breasts are, and whether their voices are pleasant to hear. If I had to add one more thing, maybe I'd also care if they have enough water.

Besides that, I don't care about compassion or being unconventional at all.

In my opinion, there are only two kinds of marriage.

A woman who understands you deeply, who shares both hardship and joy, and who has been through thick and thin with you, is a soulmate, regardless of her beauty, figure, or family background.

But my soul has already been given to the devil on the battlefield.

Others may need it, but I, Joyce Irving, don't need a soulmate.

Another type is marriage between people of similar social standing and those with power and interests.

Both men and women should be of equal strength, supporting and helping each other to achieve success, so that their families can benefit from it.

By joining forces, they will proliferate and propel the family business to new heights.

Daniel, you really don't need to worry about me falling for him.

What do you think Bella, the blonde girl, has to offer?

If it's about marriage, she's at a huge disadvantage.

Marry me and you'll receive the title and wealth of the Owen family, gaining a huge return without any effort.

Or, under the guise of love, they might betray our secrets to their rivals, destroying the Irving family's century-old legacy.

Regardless of the type, she is nothing more than a thief who steals the fruits of others' labor.

Not talking about marriage?

Ha, then what's the difference between her and a prostitute?