Wang Jing disappeared.

Yu Zi searched every corner of the basement but found only a piece of paper behind the locked corner.

Printed in bold on the paper was a line: “Sorry. You can sell the wine to someone else. Rich people can’t tell the real from the fake. In their hands, fake wine is also real wine.”

Yu Zi was trembling with anger. Did this person think everyone was a fool?!

He crumpled the piece of paper and threw it into the rain.

The raindrops melted the black letters, and the paper gradually disappeared into the damp soil.

Yu Zi began to doubt whether even the name Wang Jing was fake. He made a few calls, including to the friend who introduced him to Wang Jing, but they all knew little about him. This place was probably not his permanent residence, as even the doorknob was rusty.

Business school had taught him how to increase profit margins and optimize the supply chain, but it hadn’t taught him about the treachery of human hearts.

Human hearts could devour people.

Late at night, when Xie Dongcheng finished work at the restaurant and returned home, the house was pitch black.

The rain outside was pouring heavily, but Yu Zi was not there.

He began to worry if Yu Zi had met with an accident and called him several times, but there was no answer on the other end.

Xie Dongcheng was about to drive out to look for him when he heard the sound of the front door.

He looked up and saw Yu Zi returning, soaked to the bone, trembling with cold, slowly walking towards the bedroom.

“Do you want to take a bath?” Xie Dongcheng jumped up from the sofa.

But Yu Zi didn’t answer him. He went straight into the bedroom, slammed the door shut, and there was no sound coming from inside. The room fell into complete silence.

Yu Zi slept in the room for a day and a night, dreaming of being entangled by a giant python and unable to move.

When Xie Dongcheng knocked on the door to ask what was wrong, there was no response from inside, as if there was no one living in the room.

When Yu Zi regained consciousness, it was already evening.

He took out his usual accounting notebook and, with the remaining bit of sanity, calculated how long the money in his account could last. If only considering the labor and utilities costs of the restaurant, it should be able to last another month. But the two upcoming cooperation deals might have to be postponed.

But the most pressing issue at the moment was the thirty thousand principal due next month. Yu Zi had less than half a month left.

Where could he find this thirty thousand? Even if Wang Jing were found, it was unknown whether he could repay the money. Yu Zi couldn’t afford to wait.

As night fell, Xie Dongcheng couldn’t help but knock on the door again and asked if he needed any help.

Half a minute later, Yu Zi’s voice came from inside the room, somewhat hoarse, “I’m not feeling well. Let me be alone for a while.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought for about ten minutes, then suddenly stood up and took out a crumpled invitation from the coat hanging on the hanger. It was the one chef Zhao brought back from the villa in the western suburbs last time.

The dinner was scheduled for that night.

Sheng Chuan was in Australia, so he couldn’t ask him. The quickest person he could turn to for help now was his long-lost uncle.

Yu Zi’s mind was in chaos, with no other options.

He put on the dark blue suit he bought last time, washed his face with cold water, and forced himself to wake up.

Xie Dongcheng happened to come in from outside, and the two collided.

Xie Dongcheng looked up and saw him dressed neatly, feeling puzzled, but couldn’t catch up with his steps.

Yu Zi ran straight downstairs and then called a car to go to the western suburban club mentioned in the invitation.

It took more than half an hour for the car to arrive at the entrance of the club. Yu Zi walked into the club with the invitation in hand, but couldn’t find his uncle’s figure after looking around. Instead, he saw someone who shouldn’t be here, Xu Zhuo.

After seeing Yu Zi, Xu Zhuo seemed even more surprised than him and quickly walked towards him.

“Why does Young Master Yu have time to come to our gathering of ordinary people today?”

“It’s none of your business.” Yu Zi didn’t feel like talking to him. He came here today to find his uncle, borrow thirty thousand, and then leave.

Yu Zi bypassed him and continued to walk inside.

However, the banquet was about to begin. His uncle hadn’t shown up yet. Yu Zi looked around and saw a somewhat familiar figure, probably his uncle’s secretary, standing in the back hall.

“Hello, excuse me, is Mr. Shang not attending today?” Yu Zi greeted and asked.

“Are you referring to Mr. Shang?” The secretary had apparently forgotten what his boss’s nephew looked like and looked surprised. “He has official business in the nearby city today and couldn’t make it. Do you need to see him for something?”

Yu Zi’s throat moved twice, unable to hide his disappointment, then waved his hand, “It’s nothing.”

Today’s banquet was in vain again.

Yu Zi was about to slip away unnoticed while everyone was not paying attention. However, when he was about to reach the door, he heard someone calling him from behind.

“Young Master Yu?”

Yu Zi turned around and saw someone who looked familiar, probably a former business partner of Yu Qing’s, surnamed Liang. He had some impression of him, a man in his forties who had never married or had children. Although he looked well-maintained, Yu Zi always felt that he had a sinister face and was difficult to figure out.

But after all, he was an elder, and Yu Zi was currently in distress, so he had no position to pick and choose.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Among the people he knew here, besides this person, there was only Xu Zhuo. He wouldn’t bow down to Xu Zhuo.

When in need, any help is welcome. If he could borrow money from this person, it wouldn’t be in vain.

Yu Zi stopped in his tracks and forced a social smile, “Mr. Liang, long time no see.”

“Tsk, why call me Mr. Liang, it’s too formal. Just call me Liang ge.” He walked up to Yu Zi’s side and patted his shoulder.

The sudden physical contact made Yu Zi uncomfortable, and he instinctively stepped back half a step. Liang, on the other hand, followed half a step.

Then he reached out his hand and gently rubbed Yu Zi’s waist.

“Why does Young Master Yu have time to come to our humble gathering today? Could it be that you’re looking for a business partner?”

Yu Zi originally wanted to step back, but when he heard this, he stopped in his tracks.

He didn’t want to beat around the bush and went straight to the point, “You know about the situation of the Yu family. I’m now…”

Before he could finish, Liang instantly understood, “Encountered difficulties?”

Yu Zi hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “Yes, it’s a problem with funds.”

Liang also didn’t beat around the bush and asked him, “How much money do you need?”

Yu Zi took a deep breath and replied, “Thirty thousand.”

“Hahaha—” Liang laughed heartily, as if he had heard a big joke.

He took several seconds to calm down before smiling at Yu Zi, “I thought it was a lot of money. You don’t need to come here personally for such a small amount. I’ll have my secretary send it to your house.”

Yu Zi quickly declined, “I’ll give you double the bank interest rate as interest, and whether it’s a three-month or six-month term, you can decide.”

“No need, no need.” Liang didn’t take Yu Zi’s offer, but his hands became more presumptuous, resting on Yu Zi’s shoulder, his palm stroking his shoulder, almost touching the collarbone under his shirt.

Yu Zi’s back was covered in cold sweat, but he resisted the urge to turn and leave. Borrow the money first. Yu Zi kept repeating in his mind.

However, Liang began to take liberties, bringing his face close to Yu Zi’s side, about to whisper something to him. Before he could speak, the door of the banquet hall was pushed open with a sharp sound.

The heavy wooden door emitted a sharp sound.

Yu Zi turned his head back and saw a person standing outside.

And when he focused his gaze, he recognized who that person was. Tall, crew cut, wearing a black hoodie that was completely inappropriate for the occasion.

How could Xie Dongcheng appear here?

At this moment, Xie Dongcheng, with clenched fists and lips tightly pressed into a line, strode over and then pulled Yu Zi away from the man.

In an instant, everyone under the light looked at this uninvited guest.

“Why did you follow?” Yu Zi didn’t expect to meet Xie Dongcheng here.

Xie Dongcheng stared straight at the man who had just reached out to Yu Zi. He walked to the side of the two of them, then grabbed Yu Zi’s wrist and directly took him out of the banquet hall.

Boom—

As Yu Zi left the banquet, he heard a burst of laughter and noise inside, countless people’s laughter and stares piercing his back.

Yu Zi was dragged out of the door all the way, staggering and almost falling. The door behind closed slowly, isolating all the noise outside.

The chill of the spring night still couldn’t be concealed, and a cold wind blew through the gaps in Yu Zi’s shirt buttons.

“Let go of me.” Yu Zi couldn’t resist him, fiercely shaking off his arm. “Why did you come here?”

Yu Zi didn’t tell anyone that he was coming to the banquet.

“I’ve been looking for you all night. Chef Zhao said you might be here.” Xie Dongcheng’s palm was cold, looking like he had been outside for a long time. He stubbornly pulled Yu Zi forward. “Come with me.”

Yu Zi was still thinking about the thirty thousand that was about to be in his hands. If he missed this opportunity, he didn’t know where he would find another chance.

“What are you doing here? I want to go back!” He finally broke free from Xie Dongcheng’s hand.

Xie Dongcheng stood still and looked at him. “What are you going back for?! Does that guy look like a good person to you? Don’t you know what he wants to do to you?!”

Xie Dongcheng’s words were unusually clear, his voice raised with unmistakable anger.

Yu Zi had only seen him like this when he grabbed Xu Zhuo’s collar that time.

But now, he found it somewhat ridiculous. He took a step back, about half an arm’s length away from him. “Xie Dongcheng, are you living in a vacuum? Don’t you know that there are worse things than this in business negotiations?”

Xie Dongcheng raised his eyelids, his face still filled with anger. “Is he negotiating business? He clearly has his eye on you! He has ulterior motives!”

Hearing this, Yu Zi looked at him incredulously, then suppressed his emotions and gently patted Xie Dongcheng’s right cheek with his right hand.

He asked back, “So what if he has his eye on me? What does that have to do with you?”

Xie Dongcheng was stunned.

Yu Zi couldn’t understand.

It was clearly him who took the initiative to move away from that bed, who admitted with his own mouth that they were just in a purely physical relationship, who promised not to interfere with each other’s feelings. He even bought a car early and planned his retreat for the future.

But why did he have to appear so blatantly on this night, take him away in front of everyone’s eyes, and leave behind a mess?

Xie Dongcheng stood less than two feet away from him but avoided eye contact.

“You tell me, what does this have to do with you?”

“It does have to do with me, I can’t just stand by!” Xie Dongcheng only said the first half of the sentence, not knowing how to explain further.

Yu Zi’s eyes were sore, and his emotions were on the verge of collapse. Every word Xie Dongcheng said felt like pouring oil on a burning fire.

He took a deep breath. “I need money, and I’m about to get it. Why did you come here to interfere?”

Xie Dongcheng suddenly froze, not understanding the meaning of his words.

Seeing a tear about to fall from his eyes, Yu Zi immediately turned his head and wiped it away with the back of his hand.

He murmured softly, “Thirty thousand. I need thirty thousand. That bastard ran away, and I have to pay back the bank thirty thousand. Where am I going to find my money?”

“What thirty thousand?” Xie Dongcheng was shocked.

Yu Zi’s voice trembled, “Wang Jing, he cheated me out of thirty thousand.”

“I’m almost there. I’m really almost there…” Yu Zi kept repeating, “I need that money, I need it.”

Xie Dongcheng’s face turned pale, and his body stiffened.

He didn’t know any of this. He only knew that Yu Zi seemed a little off these past few days. But he didn’t expect Yu Zi to have such a big problem, and he actually came here tonight to borrow money.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice suddenly lowered, “Maybe I can…”

This was the first time Yu Zi saw him like this.

But Yu Zi couldn’t understand.

This was his own business. He hated exposing his vulnerabilities and weaknesses in front of others.

Seeing that Yu Zi’s complexion was getting worse, Xie Dongcheng gritted his teeth and said, “I’ll go find money, I can help you. I’ll figure out a way for thirty thousand. Anyway, don’t come to places like this to borrow money from them.”

Yu Zi looked at him. “What do you mean by ‘places like this’? Are there distinctions between clean and dirty money? Your money is clean, and mine is dirty?”

“I didn’t mean that… I want to take responsibility for you. I’m here to take responsibility.” Xie Dongcheng kept repeating mechanically.

Yu Zi felt that their conversation was becoming more and more absurd.

Occasionally, someone walked out of the banquet hall from the side door, heard their voices, looked over here, and then began to whisper.

Yu Zi didn’t want to argue with Xie Dongcheng anymore. It was like talking to a brick wall, like talking to a duck. His head was pounding, and he just wanted to leave here.

Seeing that he was about to leave, Xie Dongcheng quickly stopped him and then reached out to tightly grab his wrist.

After a while, he finally found a seemingly reasonable reason: “You live in my house, so I have to take responsibility for you.”

“Just because I live in your house?” Yu Zi interrupted him, questioning for the last time, “Is that the only reason, right?”

Xie Dongcheng held his wrist tightly but still didn’t answer.

Seeing his appearance, Yu Zi’s pent-up frustration burst. He took a deep breath, forcefully broke free from Xie Dongcheng’s hand, and turned his head away.

In the dark night, with the flickering lights, the unfortunate people faced each other with drawn swords.

Yu Zi knew he was making a mountain out of a molehill, he knew Xie Dongcheng was unaware and not responsible. But he still did it. He hated this kind of nameless pity.

He looked at the still silent Xie Dongcheng and made a final decision.

“Okay. Then I’ll leave, alright?

I won’t bother you anymore. Your house is yours, your bedroom is yours. You don’t have to take care of me anymore.”

After saying that, he turned around and walked into the pitch-black night, like a silent raindrop falling into the depths of the ocean.