Early the next morning, Li Weiyi accompanied Zhang Jingchan back to Chen City.

The Li family had all moved to Xiang City, but they still kept the old house. Without much effort, the two dug up a small iron box in a corner of the courtyard. Inside, besides a bank card, there was also a USB drive.

The USB drive stored extremely detailed accounts. Every single transaction of that Furida subsidiary company that had sucked blood from Fu Ming, every flow of funds, and many fraudulent transactions were all recorded.

There were also the transaction records of several bank accounts under the names of Liu Ying, Cheng Chuan, and Zhang Fengming. At a glance, there were many abnormal large deposits and withdrawals that didn’t match their incomes, along with irregular and non-compliant financial exchanges with Furida.

In addition, there were some photos of the three meeting with Furida’s managers and upstream and downstream buyers.

However, the “big rat” behind the three had no trace in this evidence. That person was hidden too deeply, appearing as if they didn’t exist at all.

This evidence was probably the limit of what Zhang Moyun could accomplish back then. If it could be successfully handed to the police, it would be enough to convict the three. And as stated before, the methods the police could employ were different—if they investigated, that big rat might not be able to remain “invisible” anymore.

Li Weiyi held the USB drive and asked, “What do we do now?”

Zhang Jingchan smiled faintly and said, “Since this is my father’s wish, on this timeline, I’ll also fulfill it for him. Li Yunmo and I are about to go to Nanmupu Township in Ling County to investigate the relationship between Wang Ming, Liu Ying, and the nanny. You go back to Xiang City first and hand the USB drive to Ding Chenmo. He’s from Xiang City and lives there after retirement, right in the Municipal Bureau compound.”

“Ding Chenmo is retired—will he be effective?”

“I trust him. Besides, the Criminal Investigation Division Chief of Xiang City Public Security Bureau is also surnamed Ding.”

“Huh?”

“His name is Ding Xiongwei. He’s Ding Chenmo’s younger brother, a powerful figure in the Municipal Bureau.”

Li Weiyi laughed, “I underestimated Old Ding—such deep connections. Then there’s no problem. How do you know all this?”

“In my previous life, I had dinner with several leaders from the Municipal Public Security Department. Ding Xiongwei was there as well.”

Li Yunmo was already on his way to Chen City to meet up. Zhang Jingchan saw Li Weiyi off at the long-distance bus station. The two stood by the bus with only a few minutes before departure.

Zhang Jingchan said, “I’m having Zhong Yi pick you up at the station and accompany you to deliver the USB drive. I’ll also call Ding Chenmo.”

Li Weiyi replied, “Making such a big fuss! It’s just delivering something—a small matter. Really, you don’t need to call my brother-in-law. I can go by myself.”

Zhang Jingchan smiled and raised his finger to gently tap her cheek, “Call me when you get to Xiang City.”

“Mm.” Li Weiyi raised her head to look at him.

Zhang Jingchan also stared at her. After a long moment without speaking, the finger that had been resting on her cheek moved back to grasp the back of her neck. He lowered his head and kissed her heavily. Li Weiyi’s body went soft. Only then did he end the kiss, pulling her into his embrace with his head resting in the hollow of her shoulder. “Be good and wait for me to come back,” he said.

—

Li Weiyi arrived in Xiang City in the afternoon. As soon as she exited the station, she saw Zhong Yi standing by his car. For Li Weiyi, this was the first time seeing him again after eight years in this lifetime. She happily ran over, “Brother-in-law!”

Zhong Yi smiled when he saw her and said, “When I got Achan’s call, I could hardly believe it. You must be happy, right? He finally woke up. You’ve finally made it through the hard times.”

Li Weiyi sat in the passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and answered, “So happy! Brother-in-law, he’s officially my boyfriend now. Yesterday we… hehe… we made it official.” Her brows and eyes were full of smiles. She couldn’t wait to tell him proactively.

How could Zhong Yi not see this girl’s face glowing with happiness? He couldn’t help but smile too and said, “Congratulations.”

Li Weiyi replied, “Congratulations to you too.”

As the car drove smoothly toward Ding Chenmo’s house, Zhong Yi said, “After delivering the item, come home with me for dinner. Achan instructed me to have you stay at my place these few days.”

Li Weiyi said carelessly, “It’s fine! I’ll go back to my own place. I don’t want to be a third wheel for you and my sister.”

But Zhong Yi only said, “I’ll listen to Achan.” He glanced at her and added, “Don’t worry. As soon as he comes back, I’ll return you to him. I guarantee we won’t delay you two by even a minute.”

Li Weiyi’s face heated up. She thought of Zhang Jingchan’s instruction to “be good” when they parted, and her heart swayed. She stopped insisting.

Zhong Yi glanced at her. What he didn’t mention was that there was another text message from Zhang Jingchan on his phone that read: Brother-in-law, please accompany Weiyi wherever she goes these few days. Help me protect her. I’m counting on you.

—

Seeing Ding Chenmo again, he had more white hair than eight years ago, but remained as vigorous and robust as ever.

Zhang Jingchan had probably already explained things over the phone, because Ding Chenmo solemnly took the USB drive without asking anything.

Li Weiyi asked, “When can we have results?”

Ding Chenmo glanced at her and answered, “Possibly a few months.”

Li Weiyi nodded. In these two days, she and Zhang Jingchan would travel back through time and change history. In theory, this timeline would cease to exist, covered by a new world.

But now she wondered—when that happened, would this timeline truly not exist anymore? Every new branch timeline she and Zhang Jingchan had experienced—were they truly covered over and disappeared again and again?

Or perhaps they only existed in a place she could never reach again?

So that’s why Zhang Jingchan still had her submit the evidence—to fulfill Father’s wish on this timeline, right?

Li Weiyi bowed to Ding Chenmo, “Uncle Ding, every time, you’ve helped us. You’re the most upright and steadfast police officer I’ve ever met. Thank you!”

Ding Chenmo stared at her with his sharp eagle-like gaze. After a moment, he smiled and said, “Just doing my duty. Give my regards to that young man!”

On the way back, Li Weiyi asked Zhong Yi, “Aren’t you going to ask me what I handed to the police?”

Zhong Yi smiled and answered, “Is there a need to ask? Weiyi, you’re not the only one who’s been waiting. As someone who personally experienced that incident back then, I’ve also felt guilty for not protecting Achan, and I’ve been waiting for him to wake up. Because I know that as long as he can wake up, he’ll settle accounts with those people—for himself, for you, for his father and Fu Ming, to get justice.”

Li Weiyi’s eyes instantly reddened.

So all these years, her brother-in-law asked nothing, but in fact, he understood almost everything.

“Yes!” Li Weiyi nodded forcefully. “With Achan here, we’ll definitely turn defeat into victory!”

As long as Achan is here.

The moment he woke up, the sky seemed to turn bluer and the air fresher. My heart also became clear and warm.

The moment he woke up, everyone felt we could win.

Only Achan could do this.