Han Queying’s hand slamd against the coffee table, rattling the mugs. "Despicable bastards! Are you telling they’re going after young girls through inheritance loopholes?!"
"They are so greedy and don’t know any limits..." Ruan Lihua shook her head, "It’s Jin Haolong’s shares and apartnt complex, and many more of his businesses not enough for them?"
"Clearly aren’t..." Zhao Yiming sighed.
Han Queying narrowed her eyes. "This isn’t just a case anymore. This is an infestation. And you..."
She pointed at Zhao Yiming. "You’re getting involved with them, aren’t you? You have connections. I want you to collaborate. Officially or not, help nail these bastards."
Zhao Yiming opened his mouth, because this was exactly what he wanted!
---
However, the system dinged first.
[System Alert!]
[New Quest triggered: "Justice in the Shadows"]
[Main Objective: Collaborate with Han Queying to investigate Golden Earth]
[Select Dialogue Option:]
• "Fine. I’m in. I’ll help you, even if it’s illegal."
• "I’m not risking myself for sothing that isn’t my job."
---
Zhao Yiming didn’t hesitate to choose, "I will help you, legally or not... But don’t expect to play nice, I can be nasty too."
Han Queying smirked. "Good. I knew you’d say yes."
"And I swear I will close my eyes when those ’illegal’ things you said happen... After all, even most of my seniors on the Golden Earth side so let’s do what we need to do."
anwhile, Ruan Lihua almost choked hearing him, not just because it was not like him at all, but because it was hot.
She smiled at him over her tea, eyes glinting with amusent. She hadn’t said much throughout the conversation, but her aura was strong, unreadable.
Zhao Yiming could feel it. She was letting him take the spotlight, knowing full well that the mont he got stuck, he’d be running to her for help. Again.
She sipped her tea slowly before speaking. "If you want to hit Golden Earth where it hurts, don’t just go after the top. Clean them out from the bottom."
"Their people have started targeting the old residential districts, especially the ones with ssy legal status or no surviving family mbers."
She placed her teacup down gently and continued, voice low. "They’ve been blackmailing owners of places like the Lotus Garden Apartnts, Hongxin Alley Residences, and Donghai West Row."
"Threats, false contracts, and unpaid debts suddenly appear. The kind of thing that slips past legal inspection but ruins lives."
Zhao Yiming nodded slowly, the plan beginning to form. She wasn’t just informing him. She was pointing him toward his next acquisition.
"So," Ruan Lihua said, folding one leg over the other, her expression unreadable. "If you’re going to start a war, you might as well bring your sword."
Zhao Yiming sighed, stretching his arms behind his head. "Good thing I’m already holding the hilt."
Han Queying raised a brow. "The hell does that an?"
Zhao Yiming just smiled.
It ant Ruan Lihua had already mapped the battlefield. And he was the fool willingly walking into it with her grinning behind him the whole way.
Accompanied by the sound of the system chiming in, obviously.
***
Jin Yuexin didn’t sleep well.
In her dream, she was once again in the wide green hills from her childhood. The fast, windy place where laughter echoed forever. It was a place where she usually played with her brother as a child.
Jin Yuexin’s eyes saw him, hiding behind a tree with a giggle, "Let’s play hide and seek, ii..."
She nodded and closed her eyes, and started to count. After one hundred, she was chasing after tiny footsteps, calling out a na over and over.
"Gege..."
She ran between trees, climbed the hill, and peeked behind rocks. All over the place, but she never finds her brother. Not even his footsteps at all.
"Gege?! Stop hiding... I can’t find you..."
There was only wind. No voice or laugh. No warm hand to ruffle her hair.
Her little self could feel sothing weird, like her brother leaving her forever, to a place she would never be able to reach.
She then cried alone in a warm place that suddenly beca unfamiliar.
When she woke up, her eyes were wet. "Ohh... It’s a dream." she sighed in relief.
The apartnt was dark except for a faint blue glow from the kitchen light. Her throat was dry and tight as she slipped out of bed and padded barefoot to get water.
That’s when she saw it. A quiet shadow on the balcony.
Zhao Yiming.
Leaning against the railing, a cigarette lazily pinched between his fingers, smoke curling above him like a dream that refused to settle.
She hesitated, but Yuexin had sothing to say and she needed to be brave.
She stepped closer, her voice soft. "You’re not asleep yet?"
He turned, surprised but calm. "Could say the sa to you."
Yuexin looked down, her hands twisting in front of her. "I... had a bad dream."
He nodded, tapping the ashtray. "Yeah?"
She hesitated again, then said it: "About my brother."
Zhao Yiming’s finger froze mid-tap. He didn’t speak and held his breath. A guilt clenched at his heart. His mind loudly judged him, for how hypocritical he was.
Helping her while hiding the fact that he had killed her brother.
"I couldn’t find him," Yuexin whispered. "We used to play hide and seek in the hills near my grandpa’s house. He always let win. But this ti... he never answered."
Zhao Yiming looked away, the cigarette now burning quietly between his fingers.
"Sorry," he muttered, almost too low.
But she didn’t hear it and the atmosphere turned awkward even Yuexin knew she needed to say sothing.
She then bowed abruptly and awkwardly, like a tiny chick trying to fly. "I just want to say... thank you. Really. If you didn’t stop at the hospital, I would’ve... signed it. I’m so useless. I should’ve known..."
"Stop." His voice was firm.
Yuexin flinched.
"You’re not useless," Zhao Yiming said, flicking the cigarette into the tray and turning fully toward her.
"You smiled and helped ilin host dinner like nothing happened. You’ve been through bad things and still stand." he smiles warmly.
She stared up at him, mouth slightly open.
"You’re stronger than you think."
Her cheeks turned red. Her fingers curled. Jin Yuexin could feel her heart fluttering and not only that, she was happy.
Soone besides her brother, Nanny Liu, and Su ilin could acknowledge her. Not only her beauty, but sothing inside that she, herself hated.
And then... without thinking—just feeling—she tiptoed closer and kissed him.
It was quick. Clumsy. Her lips barely grazed his.
But Zhao Yiming blinked as if he’d just been hit by lightning.
And she?
"W-WAAHH!!" Yuexin yelped, eyes wide as saucers before she turned and ran off like a cat caught stealing snacks.
Zhao Yiming stood frozen on the balcony, and wasn’t sure what actually happened either. "Did... She just kissed ?"
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