Gong Chen paused as he looked at the photo, his actions coming to a halt.
Lin Zhiyi noticed, opened her eyes, and turned to the phone.
In front of her was an old photo.
The middle-aged man in the photo appeared stern and dignified, but his eyes held an indescribable coldness.
"Who is this?"
"Bai Zhengxian’s father."
Gong Chen enlarged the photo, revealing the tattoo on Bai Zhengxian’s wrist.
It was the symbol of a cruise ship.
Lin Zhiyi asked puzzledly, "An old photo like this, is there a problem with it?"
Gong Chen, with a calm facade, swiped the phone to another photo.
Lin Zhiyi was surprised, "This is..."
The face was very similar to the old master of the Bai family.
"Second Master Bai," Gong Chen explained.
"The old master had a brother?"
Lin Zhiyi had never heard of this before.
"He was said to be in poor health at birth and has been raised abroad," Gong Chen hinted.
"Is there sothing wrong with him?"
Lin Zhiyi knew well that Gong Chen wouldn’t look into a stranger for no reason.
Gong Chen looked at the photo and said, "This person frequently appeared in Southeast Asia a year before the old master of the Bai family had an accident."
Lin Zhiyi was startled.
"After the Bai family’s incident, he also went to Southeast Asia?"
"Yes."
"Do you think there’s a connection between the two?" Lin Zhiyi tilted her head to look at him.
"I don’t know yet, but according to the investigation, he just entered the country today. It seems the Bai family is planning sothing big."
Gong Chen lowered his head, resting his chin on Lin Zhiyi’s forehead, affectionately rubbing a few tis.
"Zhiyi, be careful."
Lin Zhiyi nodded, promising, "I won’t be a burden to you. But you, tied up with Gong Yao and Bai Ruoshu, won’t that drag you down?"
"It’s just right to clean house."
"Hmm?"
Lin Zhiyi was taken aback.
Before she could recover, her head was pressed against his chest.
"Sleep. Why talk about others in the middle of the night?"
"Business." Lin Zhiyi emphasized.
"Gong Yao is not business, I am. If you can’t sleep..."
"I’m sleepy, let’s sleep."
Lin Zhiyi didn’t want to struggle to get up tomorrow.
...
The Bai Family.
The storm had just passed, and the Bai family mbers stood under the porch in front of the house.
A black business car erged from the night and stopped under the lights.
The maid stepped forward to open the car door, but before anyone got out, a tortoiseshell cane first hit the ground.
With a thud, the figure inside the car appeared right on ti.
Bai Zhengxian stepped forward, "Second Uncle, it’s been a while."
Second Master Bai glanced lightly at him.
"I just asked you to handle sothing in the country, and such a big issue arose. Do you know how much I lost at the overseas art museum?"
In front of Second Master Bai, Bai Zhengxian restrained himself considerably.
"My apologies, Second Uncle."
Observing this, Yang Jingwei stepped forward to assist.
"Second Uncle, indeed there were so issues this ti, but it has been turned around now. After the banquet, it will definitely not affect the cruise plan."
Second Master Bai looked at Yang Jingwei, "I heard the idea of recognizing relatives was yours, it was sowhat useful."
With those words, Bai Zhengxian’s face turned ashen.
Yang Jingwei quickly said, "Second Uncle, actually it was Zhengxian who reminded . He has so many big things to handle, it’s only right for as his wife to deal with these small matters."
Bai Zhengxian’s expression slightly eased.
Second Master Bai placed his hands on the tortoiseshell handle of his cane and nodded.
Then he turned to Bai Ruoshu.
"I hear you’re seeing Gong Yao?"
"Yes," Bai Ruoshu replied respectfully.
"Find a ti to get engaged first; the old man of the Gong family can’t keep dodging."
Second Master Bai made a decisive decision.
Bai Ruoshu frowned, refuting, "I don’t like Gong Yao! I won’t get engaged to soone like him! Most of the Gong family’s assets are in the Third Young Master’s hands, if I were to marry, it would be to him."
Second Master Bai snorted coldly.
"With your current reputation? The family has spent money and pulled strings to stabilize your fan base, do you really think you can just brush it off by saying you don’t like him? Your fans aren’t ordinary people, they hold value. Getting engaged to Gong Yao might at least win back so simple-minded rapport."
"I..."
Bai Ruoshu wanted to argue but was interrupted by Yang Jingwei.
"Ruoshu, your Second Uncle is right. As the eldest daughter of the Bai family, you should take on the family’s responsibility and not lose your status."
Yang Jingwei gave her a aningful look.
Bai Ruoshu stepped back, bowed her head and said, "I understand."
Second Master Bai walked straight into the house.
An hour later, Yang Jingwei entered Second Master Bai’s room.
The person inside seed to have anticipated this and didn’t even look up.
"Is Ruoshu settled?"
"Yes. She will et with Gong Yao tomorrow to discuss the engagent."
Yang Jingwei approached, placing her hand on Second Master Bai’s shoulder, giving a gentle massage.
Second Master Bai didn’t resist, enjoying it, "Zhengxian said you’ve been causing trouble for the Second Madam of the Gong family and her daughter since returning. Do you know them?"
Yang Jingwei’s hand paused.
"No, I’ve just heard that the Second Madam is easy to manipulate, a potential breakthrough. I didn’t expect the Second Young Master to be such a hidden figure."
"When the Bai family withdrew from the dostic market, it was thanks to the old man of the Gong family egging it on. In his youth, he seed indulgent in pleasures, but his thods were ruthless. He even swallowed his wife’s family and now, in his old age, he’s estranged from his son, karma!"
Second Master Bai laughed heartily.
He took Yang Jingwei’s hand, which was on his shoulder.
Yang Jingwei shuddered, pursing her lips tightly.
"I’ll go run a bath for you to relax."
"Okay."
...
The storm lasted through the night, and the news broadcasted road conditions.
Everything cleared up with just a few words.
Also subsiding was the online fervor over the art museum case.
It was evident that soone was controlling the narrative.
In its place were headlines about the Bai family’s donations, Bai family comforting victims, Bai family adopting victims, and so on.
The reputation of the Bai family gradually increased.
Bai Ruoshu had a lunch appointnt with Gong Yao to discuss so business.
Gong Yao downed half a glass of wine, processing Bai Ruoshu’s words.
"Engagent?"
He wasn’t interested in Bai Ruoshu.
Especially now, as she was still struggling in the public eye.
"Yes." Bai Ruoshu took a sip of water, nodding calmly.
"Bai Ruoshu, we only slept together once, there’s no need to escalate the situation. Acting like a couple right now is just for the facade of both families."
"Fourth Master, I’m informing you, not discussing with you."
"Bai Ruoshu, watch your words," Gong Yao narrowed his eyes.
"Fourth Master, was that night enjoyable? It was a special gift prepared just for you. What do you think would happen if the video were released; would you still have a place in the vast Gong family?"
"You!"
Gong Yao’s face turned ashen.
That night at the exhibition, after a brief conversation with Bai Ruoshu, he felt heated all over.
Bai Ruoshu guided him to a room, and believing it was her with him, he didn’t resist being intimate.
When he awoke and saw the person on the bed, he was utterly stunned.
Before he could make sense of things, Bai Ruoshu’s people whisked him away from the gallery.
Soon after, there was a raid.
He thought he had narrowly escaped a disaster.
He didn’t expect that the next day Bai Ruoshu would show up with the video, forcing him to defend her publicly.
Bai Ruoshu noticed Gong Yao’s anger and smiled as she poured him another drink.
"Don’t be upset. Once we’re engaged, we’ll be in the sa boat. There’s no way I’d let the video get out; I barely have enough ti to shield you."
"Besides, Fourth Master, you’re in need of support. If my Bai family prospers, will you still fear the Third Young Master? Wasn’t getting close to your plan all along?"
At the banquet, my mother will announce our good news."
Bai Ruoshu smiled, with a hint of mockery and self-mockery.
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