He laughed mockingly: “You didn’t search past news reports? You don’t know why I need to go back?”

Li Weiyi said quietly, “It’s not that. I did search roughly, only glanced at a few things. I was too panicked this morning.”

He said nothing, picked up his phone, scrolled to a news article, and placed it on the sofa between them.

Li Weiyi picked it up and her eyes widened.

History had changed again.

On July 25, 2014, Zhang Moyun was found dead in one of his villas. The cause of death was drug overdose. It was said he died in an extremely undignified manner—naked, the scene in complete disarray. Also discovered with him was the group’s Public Relations Director, Liu Ying. According to Liu Ying’s confession, the two had been having an extramarital affair for over a year. That night, Zhang Moyun had drunk heavily and then taken an excessive amount of aphrodisiac drugs himself, leading to sudden death.

The police had suspected Liu Ying, but there was no evidence proving she had administered the drugs. Combined with the forensic examination finding no evidence of external injuries, Liu Ying was ultimately released without charges.

However, through Zhang Moyun’s relentless efforts before his death, Fu Ming barely hung on for another two months. On the eve of bankruptcy in early September 2014, soybean futures—which had been depressed for half a year—skyrocketed overnight, hitting limit-up for several consecutive days to reach historic highs.

Shocking news emerged: before his death, Zhang Moyun had purchased up to 90 million yuan worth of soybean futures. Overnight, Fu Ming cleared all its debts, sending shockwaves through the business world.

Afterward, as Fu Ming’s tree fell and its monkeys scattered, Zhang Jingchan, still just a junior in college, stepped forward and took over what remained of the defeated forces—the predecessor to Huicui.

…

Li Weiyi was still in shock when Zhang Jingchan clicked open another news article. It stated that half a month after Zhang Moyun’s death, Ding Chenmo, the criminal police captain responsible for investigating the case, died in a car accident.

Li Weiyi: “You suspect…”

“If it were some other cause of death, that would be one thing. But an affair? With Liu Ying? Absolutely impossible. My father was a farmer-turned-entrepreneur, started as a construction foreman. Maybe he wasn’t refined in other aspects, and maybe he had poor judgment about people. But regarding my mother, he never once wronged her. Moreover, Ding Chenmo’s death was too coincidental.”

“Fu Ming… had an insider threat?”

Zhang Jingchan nodded: “When my father wanted to audit the accounts and settle everything, he definitely touched that person’s interests. That person used Liu Ying to kill my father.”

Li Weiyi’s heart grew heavy: “Then what should we do?”

“Following the pattern, when we cross over again, time will push forward another two months, meaning July 2014, when my father wasn’t dead yet. As long as we can help him root out the insider threat within those three days, history will change.”

Li Weiyi immediately nodded: “Alright, let’s go tonight. However, based on previous experience, that hit-and-run driver might not appear for several more days.”

Zhang Jingchan said nothing.

Li Weiyi had a flash of inspiration and grabbed his arm, saying, “Tell me, could the driver actually be the insider who harmed your father?”

Zhang Jingchan pulled his arm from her grasp and answered, “It’s still too early to discuss this.”

Li Weiyi awkwardly lowered her hand.

Just then, the phone in her pocket rang. She took it out, and Zhang Jingchan also glanced sideways. Both saw the name on the screen.

As soon as Li Weiyi raised her head, her gaze met Zhang Jingchan’s. She felt embarrassed to death and, without thinking, hung up.

Zhang Jingchan showed no expression and turned his face away.

Then the phone rang persistently again.

Li Weiyi’s face flushed. She grabbed her phone and walked to one side. Fortunately, this person’s office was large enough. Li Weiyi walked all the way to a distant corner.

She lowered her voice and answered: “Hello.”

Xu Yi’s gentle voice came through: “Xiaoyi, why did it take so long to answer? Where are you?”

“Oh… at a gallery. It’s too quiet around here, not convenient to answer the phone.”

“I see. What are you planning to eat for lunch by yourself?”

“Just… something simple.”

Xu Yi sighed softly: “How many times have I told you not to just make do? Eat something nutritious. Should I have someone order food delivered to you?”

“No need, no need! I’m with several painters, so we might eat together later. What about you? About to go eat? If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now. I still need to view the exhibition.”

On the other end of the line, Xu Yi, who had just finished an important meeting and was leaning back in his executive chair, slowly opened his slightly closed eyes. There was no smile on his face, yet his voice carried laughter: “Why does it feel like you’re trying to get rid of me, just wanting to hang up quickly?”

“I’m not!” Li Weiyi denied emphatically. “I’m just absorbed in viewing the paintings.”

“Then put down those paintings for now and talk to your boyfriend for a bit. Xiaoyi, this morning’s meeting was particularly mentally exhausting. I’m very tired.”

Li Weiyi: “Then you must rest well. Health is the foundation of everything. Eat something nutritious and take a nap.”

He chuckled softly and said, “Alright.”

Li Weiyi wanted to hang up but didn’t want to mention it again, so she simply said nothing. He was also quiet for a moment before saying, “Kiss me, Xiaoyi.”

Right now, the word “kiss” was the last thing Li Weiyi wanted to hear. Like a thief, she glanced at Zhang Jingchan in the distance. Little did she expect that this person was no longer hanging his head, but instead sat with his arms crossed, leaning back against the sofa, head raised, staring directly at her.

It was exactly like catching someone in the act of cheating.

Li Weiyi’s heart immediately jumped with alarm. She quickly turned around, putting her back to him, lowering her voice even more: “I already said there are other painters nearby. It’s not very convenient.”

On the other end, Xu Yi had already sat up straight, his eyes clear and sharp. One hand held the phone while the other picked up a photo of the two of them on his desk, his fingers gently caressing her image in the photo. He coaxed softly with a smile, “Since when do you care so much about others’ opinions? At the group headquarters’ annual banquet last time, who was it that kissed me in front of hundreds of people?”

Li Weiyi: “…That was me. Women are just this fickle.”

He laughed aloud but said, “Xiaoyi, you’ve been distracted since this morning, always avoiding me. What exactly happened? Did I offend my girlfriend somehow without knowing it?”

“No! Really, no! You’re overthinking it!” Li Weiyi denied again.

Xu Yi sighed and said, “Fine, we’ll talk when we meet. Don’t forget—the driver will pick you up tonight.”

Li Weiyi paused and said, “Um… sorry, I suddenly have something urgent tonight and can’t make it. Please cancel the restaurant reservation. I’m sorry!”

There was no sound from the other end.

Li Weiyi gripped her phone tightly. From the corner of her eye, she quickly glanced back—Zhang Jingchan’s posture hadn’t changed at all. He was still staring fixedly at her.

Li Weiyi felt the back of her head going numb from his stare. She thought to herself, what kind of situation is this? Making it look like she was playing with two big shots simultaneously.

“What urgent matter do you have?” Xu Yi asked, his voice flat.

Li Weiyi’s eyes darted about, and she spoke off the cuff: “Remember Professor Zhang from the art academy? He just called me and asked me to go to his house for dinner tonight to discuss my participation in the Beijing Young Artists Competition. This is very important. I can only accommodate the professor’s schedule; I can’t ask the professor to accommodate mine.”

“I see.” Xu Yi’s tone was understanding. “Alright, your career is most important. I’ll have someone cancel the reservation.”

Li Weiyi: “I’m sorry.”

He was quiet for a moment, then said, “Kiss me once, and I’ll forgive you.”

This time, Li Weiyi had no way to refuse a second time—it would be too stiff and too strange. In that same instant, she also recalled many previous times when Xu Yi, already a business tycoon, would be just like this on the phone with her—gentle and affectionate, sticky and sweet. He didn’t find it childish; in fact, he enjoyed it endlessly.

Intense sourness and dull, aching tenderness struck her. Li Weiyi froze, realizing it was this body’s emotional response. The guilt in her heart intensified. She struggled to suppress that emotion and quickly made a kissing sound into the phone.

On the other end, Xu Yi laughed deeply, also made a kissing sound, and said huskily, “I love you.”

Li Weiyi immediately raised her voice: “Ah, yes, yes, are you calling me over? Right away. I’ll hang up now. Talk later.”

She hung up and let out a long breath, but that genuine emotion was still rebelling in her chest. This left her mood utterly dejected. She turned around silently, only to see Zhang Jingchan on the sofa suddenly stand up and stride out of the office. His suited figure flashed by, and with a “bang,” he slammed the door.

Li Weiyi: …

He had heard that phone kiss.

One hundred percent.

With his composed temperament, he must have been fuming with rage to slam the door like that, right?