When Yun Pei arrived at the headquarters of the Qin Corporation, a department manager was in the middle of reporting work. Qin Mingyuan asked Zhou Yang to go downstairs to bring the guest up.

It was a good thing he did, because ever since Yun Haowei had made a scene in his office last time, the security department had received orders that no one from the Yun family was allowed inside.

To avoid losing their jobs, the head of security had even asked Zhou Yang for photos of the Yun family members, instructing the staff to memorize each face to ensure that no one from the family would be let in again.

When Zhou Yang went downstairs, poor Yun Pei was blocked at the entrance. Zhou Yang rushed over in a panic and personally escorted him inside, muttering to himself that he’d need to have a chat with the head of security later—this was someone they definitely couldn’t afford to block.

The fact that the assistant to President Qin came down in person to greet someone attracted a few curious glances, but being mere employees, they dared not let their curiosity go too far. After a quick look, they moved on.

Inside the elevator, Zhou Yang snuck a glance at the person who was standing quietly with his head lowered, wondering if he should say something to break the awkward silence.

The other party had only nodded upon meeting him and hadn’t spoken since.

Having been around the expressionless boss for so long, Zhou Yang had developed a keener sensitivity to emotions than most. He could tell that the person’s mood wasn’t great—perhaps even very bad.

Not wanting to risk saying the wrong thing, Zhou Yang decided to stay silent.

He stood perfectly still, adopting the role of a flawless background figure.

The quiet elevator ride soon ended as they reached the top floor. As he led the guest towards the office, Zhou Yang finally spoke, “President Qin is currently discussing some work matters. You may need to wait a moment when you go in, Mr. Yun Pei.”

Just as he finished speaking, the wheelchair stopped, and so did he, “What’s the matter?” he asked.

“I’ll just wait outside. I’ll go in once he’s finished,” Yun Pei looked up at him, his face pale and his voice slightly hoarse.

His condition was even worse than Zhou Yang had originally thought. He glanced at Yun Pei’s expression again and smiled, “It’s fine. President Qin specifically asked me to bring you in as soon as you arrived. It won’t disturb him.”

But Yun Pei was insistent, shaking his head, “I’ll wait outside.”

Zhou Yang felt a little troubled and hesitated whether he should go in and ask the boss. Just then, the office door opened, and the manager walked out, momentarily pausing when he saw people at the door.

His expression relaxed as he greeted them and said, “It looks like President Qin is done. You can go in now.”

Seeing that Yun Pei didn’t object, Zhou Yang knocked on the door. After hearing a response from inside, he opened the door and invited him in.

As soon as the door closed, Zhou Yang found himself face-to-face with the department manager’s curious eyes. Preempting the questions, he raised his hand, “Don’t ask. If you ask, the answer is: I don’t know. No idea. Not a clue. If you have any doubts, feel free to ask President Qin directly.”

The department manager swallowed the words he had been about to say, thinking to himself that Zhou Yang really had a tight lip.

He had just been curious about why his work report had been cut short, briefly wondering if it signaled the end of his career. But it turned out someone else was here to see the boss.

He scratched his chin, contemplating. The person looked unfamiliar and was in a wheelchair, definitely not someone from the business world. Yet, Zhou Yang treated him so respectfully…

It wasn’t simple. For the sake of his career, he decided it was best not to pry any further.

Whatever gossip was brewing outside, the people in the office were entirely unaware of it.

When Qin Mingyuan saw Yun Pei being brought in, he got up from his desk, walked over with his long legs, and, after standing in front of him for a moment, knelt down to look up at him.

The young man’s face didn’t look good, clearly having not slept well the night before. Dark circles were under his eyes, and he appeared haggard. His gaze was cast downward, avoiding Qin Mingyuan’s eyes. Qin Mingyuan frowned.

“Yun Pei,” he called his name softly, placing a hand on the armrest of the wheelchair.

The familiar scent surrounding him seemed to wrap around Yun Pei, and he finally raised his face, meeting Qin Mingyuan’s gaze. His eyelashes fluttered, his lips trembled, and he uttered three words, “Qin Mingyuan…”

“Mm, I’m here,” Qin Mingyuan responded quickly, still kneeling in front of him, looking up at him, “Whatever you want to say, I’m here to listen.”

Perhaps comforted by his gentle tone, Yun Pei’s previously dazed eyes gradually regained focus. His lashes fluttered again, and his eyes started to redden, “My mom’s death… it might not have been an accident…”

Qin Mingyuan remained silent for a moment. He stood up, walked behind the wheelchair, and pushed Yun Pei over to the sofa by the window.

Sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the area in warmth. Yet, despite being pushed into this warm space, Yun Pei’s heart still felt cold from the fragments of conversation he had overheard the day before.

That coldness seemed to seep from his bones, spreading throughout his body, making him want to shiver uncontrollably. He didn’t dare to delve deeper, didn’t dare to confirm it.

Qin Mingyuan sat beside him, not pushing him to speak, quietly watching him.

Seeing Yun Pei lift his trembling hands to hug his arms, Qin Mingyuan unbuttoned his suit jacket, took it off, and draped it over Yun Pei’s shoulders.

The warmth from the jacket and the familiar scent enveloped Yun Pei, dispelling some of the insecurity he felt. He looked up at Qin Mingyuan and whispered a thank you, his fingers gripping the edge of the jacket tightly, wrapping himself up like he was nestled in the territory of a fierce beast, where no one dared to come near.

He pressed his lips together, gathering his thoughts before speaking, “Yesterday, I overheard Huo Lijuan on the phone…”

Yesterday, Yun Pei had gone to a gallery and didn’t return to the villa until after dinner, when it was already quite late.

Recently, Yun Haowei had been busy at the company most of the time, rarely coming back for meals. Yun Yuexian, on the other hand, had been flying around the country due to his movie commitments, and Yun Pei hadn’t seen him for days.

Except for the servants, the villa was occupied by just Yun Pei and Huo Lijuan. Yun Pei spent most of his time in his room, and Huo Lijuan had also been busy with something lately, often going out, so they hadn’t seen each other for days.

Yun Pei was quite content with not seeing them.

When he came back yesterday and didn’t see her downstairs, he didn’t think much of it, assuming she was either resting upstairs or hadn’t returned yet.

But when he went upstairs and passed by the terrace, he overheard her talking on the phone. At first, he didn’t pay much attention, planning to leave, until he heard his mother’s name.

The second-floor hallway had carpeted floors, and the wheelchair made no sound as it moved. He adjusted his position, stopping as close as possible to where she stood.

“You’d better not push your luck…”

“Our deal ended years ago… don’t be greedy…”

“Don’t forget, if that car accident is investigated… you won’t get away…”

“…I’ve done my part… karma…”

“Stop threatening me… if worst comes to worst… this is where it ends…”

“Luo Yuqing’s death… you… are not innocent…”

Huo Lijuan’s voice occasionally rose due to emotional agitation, but for the most part, she kept it low. Yun Pei didn’t catch everything she said, but what little he did hear was enough for him to piece some things together.

He couldn’t remember what kind of mood he was in when he returned to his room, nor could he figure out who Huo Lijuan had been talking to, but one thing became clear to him.

The car accident that killed his mother and left him without the use of his legs may not have been an accident at all. It could have been premeditated from the start.

Sitting in his dark room, he went over every detail of that day.

It had been his twelfth birthday. Yun Haowei had promised to take time off to celebrate with him and his mom by going to the amusement park.

But he hadn’t come home. Yun Pei remembered hearing his mom arguing with him over the phone, her voice agitated.

When she came out, her eyes were red. Yun Pei had asked if she had been crying, but she had only said that something had gotten in her eye, that she hadn’t cried.

In fact, he had often seen his mom unhappy during that time, sitting alone, lost in thought. Sometimes she would hold him and say that he was the most important person to her in the world.

At the time, he didn’t understand what those emotions meant. He just stayed quietly by her side, hoping she would cheer up.

By the time he finally understood, it was too late.

On the way to the amusement park that day, a large truck had suddenly swerved towards them from the opposite lane, colliding with their car.

His mom had died on the spot, while he barely survived.

His legs, however, had been completely ruined.

At first, he had believed it was an accident, simply bad luck. But after overhearing Huo Lijuan’s conversation, all his memories of that day were shaken up and rearranged into a whole new picture.

It was as if a thick fog had parted, revealing a truth that he had never wanted to face.

The thought of his mom’s gentle smile, her warm embrace, and the love she had always shown him filled his chest with a deep, aching pain. He could barely breathe.

Was her death truly a planned event? Had everything he’d been through—his loss, his pain, his shattered legs—been part of someone’s scheme?

And if so… who was behind it all? Was it Yun Haowei? Huo Lijuan? Or someone else?

He had to find out. He couldn’t let this go unanswered.

But first, he had to tell Qin Mingyuan.