The silence is broken by a lone thunderclap.

After calming her startled daughter, Lin Jing hears footsteps outside. She quickly gets out of bed, leaves the bedroom, and runs into Zhao Minghai. She whispers, “Why are you back so late?”

“I had something to discuss with Brother Shen.”

Zhao Minghai replies succinctly and then asks, “Is there any food left at home? I need a bite.”

“Just wait a moment.”

Lin Jing heads to the kitchen. “Aunt Liu stewed your favorite beef today. How about I make you a bowl of noodles?”

“That would be perfect.”

Zhao Minghai loves this especially when he’s stressed, and Lin Jing soon brings over a steaming bowl of noodles. He takes off his coat and starts eating.

Lin Jing isn’t idle either; she picks up his coat and searches every pocket inside and out. She even stands beside him, knowing what she’s about to do. He puts down his chopsticks and raises his hands in surrender.

Lin Jing gives him a look and thoroughly searches him, not even sparing the collar of his shirt. She sniffs carefully, finding only the unpleasant smell of smoke, no strange scents, and then stops.

She picks up the mobile phone on the dining table, checks the call log and messages, and asks, “Haven’t found Bai Ying yet?”

Zhao Minghai sighs, “You think it’s easy? Brother Shen doesn’t want to make a fuss. He’s offended too many people in the past few years and fears being found out. And don’t you go talking about it everywhere; we need to be careful.”

“Who would I tell?”

Lin Jing looks up and mutters, “I think if Shen doesn’t plan to marry Boi Ying, they should just part ways amicably.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Zhao Minghai interrupts her.

Lin Jing is naturally unhappy to hear this, “Did they not fall out over this? Do all you men think this way, that you don’t want to take responsibility if you have money?”

Zhao Minghai pleads, “Madam, how did we get onto this topic?”

“I think Shen is in the wrong.”

Lin Jing continues, “Marriage should be discussed by two people. If they agree, they marry; if not, they split. How can he not want to marry but also not want to split up?”

If she were Bai Ying, she would leave too.

Shen may be wealthy, but he can’t possibly share his fortune with his girlfriend, right?

Besides, Bai Ying clearly has deep feelings for Shen; she’s not after his money.

Zhao Minghai, not wanting to be caught in an unwarranted disaster, simply keeps his head down and eats his noodles.

The bowl of noodles is quickly finished, and Lin Jing’s phone rings. She glances at the caller ID and hands it to him, saying irritably, “It’s for you.”

Zhao Minghai takes the phone and answers.

Whatever is said on the other end, his expression gradually becomes grave, and finally, with a snap, his chopsticks drop to the floor.

Lin Jing is about to scold him when he puts away the phone, picks up his coat, and puts it on, “I won’t be back tonight.”

“What happened, what’s going on?”

Lin Jing is stunned, quickly follows him, and asks.

Zhao Minghai turns around, places his hands on her shoulders, and speaks softly, “No matter what happens, don’t be afraid. Without Brother Shen, there would be no me today. Whatever he does to me, I won’t blame him, and even if you blame him, don’t show it. If you have any complaints, just let me have it when I get home.”

Lin Jing is shocked.

Zhao Minghai tenderly kisses her face.

“Zhong Wenhui is in the hospital.”

Lin Jing looks up at him in shock.

“His ribs were broken.”

Zhao Minghai sighs, his head aching, “I’ve gotten myself into trouble this time.”

Into… what trouble?

Before Lin Jing can ask, Zhao Minghai has already hurriedly left the house.

…

On the way back to Ning City, Jiang Mocheng receives a call from Lin Fei. On the phone, Lin Fei cautiously asks, “Are you okay?”

Lin Fei had hesitated for a long time, mustering the courage to make this call.

Jiang Mocheng calmly “hmm” in response.

Lin Fei remains silent as well.

The vehicle speeds through the rainy night, splashing water.

After nearly half a minute of silence—so long that Lin Fei thought there was a problem with the phone signal—Jiang Mocheng finally speaks, “There’s another matter I need you to handle.”

Lin Fei perks up, “What is it?”

He can’t help but rub his hands together, feeling an excitement he hasn’t felt in a long time, even though he doesn’t know why he’s so thrilled.

On the other end of the phone, Jiang Mocheng says in a calm voice, “Every remaining newspaper, count them one by one, and find a way to destroy them all. Don’t leave a single one.”

He doesn’t want to see that newspaper again, nor the photo in it.

“Ah?”

Lin Fei is surprised and blurts out, “Doing cleanup work for Shen Jin?!”

Clearly, Jiang Mocheng’s temper isn’t good enough to tolerate such comments.

What’s said cannot be taken back.

Lin Fei hears the busy tone and feels a complex mix of emotions. Now, even thinking with his toes, he knows what has happened.

Jiang Mocheng went to the Shen family and came back empty-handed, and worse, might have been deceived both physically and emotionally.

Thinking about the box of chocolates Jiang Mocheng took away at that time, Lin Fei’s curiosity about the legendary Miss Bai peaks.

If he remembers correctly, Jiang Mocheng had only been at the Shen residence for a few days.

Was he taken down that quickly?

Now that Jiang Mocheng clearly knows her identity, the first thing he orders is to destroy the remaining newspapers—what does that mean? It means that even being deceived like this, he seems unwilling to let go.

It’s over.

That’s the only thought Lin Fei has at the moment.

…

After reviewing the preliminary contract, Bai Ying stretches lazily, fills the bathtub with hot water, and enjoys a comfortable bath.

She doesn’t turn off the TV outside, listening to the evening news, her thoughts drifting far away.

Collaborating with Liao Junhong is not an easy task, and she has been busy lately, not just frequenting the stock exchange but also visiting various photo studios in Ning City.

Even in her opinion, taking photos naturally means going to a photo studio.

The business model of photo studios is now quite mature and deeply ingrained in people’s hearts.

The reason Liao Junhong’s photography company is losing money to the point of bankruptcy is not just because the financial chain is broken.

If it were just a lack of money, wouldn’t Liao Junhong have found a partner in these past few months? Wouldn’t anyone be tempted?

During the year Bai Ying was with Shen Jin, she learned many things not taught in textbooks, such as, in business, often the financial aspect is the simplest part.

While visiting photo studios, Bai Ying also hears customers complaining to the owner.

The child was photographed with that backdrop at one year old, the same at two years old, and still the same at three years old…

“Can’t they change it up a bit? The colors of those fake flowers have faded over time!”

The photo studio owner is also in a difficult position. The space is only so big, how many scenes can they set up?

It’s not like they can change it every year, right?

Hearing these complaints, Bai Ying is even more determined. No industry can maintain the same model forever.

Her future division of labor with Liao Junhong should also be very clear. He will handle the “technical” aspects, while she will take on the “sales” role.

Liao Junhong is talented, has ideas, and is creative, but even if she provides the funds, it’s all for naught if the customers don’t follow.

Bai Ying’s cheeks begin to redden from the heat of the bath. After getting out of the tub and rinsing off, she puts on a bathrobe. As she ties it, she feels her pores open and her bones relax.

She meticulously follows her skincare routine, and soon, her body is fragrant.

She glances at the time; it’s almost half-past ten.

The person who said he’d rush back to have supper with her is nowhere to be seen. She hums lightly and is about to head to bed when the doorbell rings insistently, one after another.

Bai Ying frowns, walks to the door, peeks through the peephole, and sees Jiang Mocheng outside. She opens the door and immediately asks, “Why are you back so late?”

To her surprise, Jiang Mocheng doesn’t speak but looks at her intently, as if trying to see through her.

She assumes he had a tough time handling affairs in Jincheng.

After a few steps, she notices he isn’t following and looks back at him questioningly, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Mocheng, as if released from a spell, finally steps forward, though his steps are stiff. He enters the room and closes the door behind him.

His presence seems to fill the room with a chill.

His gaze falls on her as she gathers her hair and sits on the sofa. She squeezes some cream onto her fingertips and gently applies it to her neck, spreading it evenly. As she raises her arms, the sleeves of her bathrobe slide down to her elbows, and the light casts a lustrous glow around her.

He approaches her, his tall frame blocking the light.

As she looks up to speak, she inadvertently notices the obvious wounds on the back of his hand. She pauses, takes his hand, and asks with a frown, “How did you get hurt?”

The back of his hand, especially around the knuckles, is freshly wounded and bleeding.

It looks as if he had been in a fight, perhaps punching a wall.

Jiang Mocheng remains silent, his eyes fixed on her deeply.

“I’ll check the first aid kit for something to use.”

The hotel staff are responsible; perhaps it’s because she accidentally broke a glass last time, and he carried her unconscious to the hospital… When she returned from the hospital, the front desk even had a first aid kit delivered, complete with basic medicines. She just doesn’t know if it contains cotton swabs, iodine, or band-aids.

Bai Ying also notices that he’s unusually quiet and strange today. She’s not the type to pry, and if it’s none of her business, she won’t keep asking if he doesn’t tell.

She opens the wardrobe in the hallway, finds the first aid kit inside, and easily locates the iodine and band-aids.

As she turns around, she feels a pressure behind her. He’s there, using his injured hand to grasp her wrist with a bit of force, making her face him.

“…”

Bai Ying is puzzled, and before she can ask, he seems desperate to find something, pressing her against the dressing mirror on the wall next to the wardrobe, then cups the back of her head and leans down to kiss her.

Her calves press against the cold mirror, sending a shiver through her. Instinctively trying to struggle, she makes muffled sounds, trying to escape but unable to.

His kiss is fierce, and gradually, the hand she raises to push him away softens, and she can only cling tightly to his clothes, as if seeking a point of support.