Upon hearing Ye Linchen say he had a solution, Meng Zihan's eyes immediately lit up.

She looked up, her face streaked with tears, and asked urgently, "What solution? Cousin, I knew you'd have a way! Tell me quickly, what should I do?"

Ye Linchen's voice remained calm.

"Now, take the evidence you've gathered and turn yourself in to the police station."

"Turn yourself in?" Meng Zihan's eyes widened.

Ye Linchen ignored her surprise and continued speaking.

"Yes, surrender yourself. Tell them you knew absolutely nothing about the company's accounts or Zhang Qingxiang's dealings, and that you only discovered the discrepancies recently, after having someone investigate yourself. Proactively providing clues and cooperating with the investigation is called making amends for your crimes."

"With this evidence, the police will naturally open a case and intervene. As long as you have a good attitude and return all the illegal gains in the end, the law will take it into consideration, and you may be able to avoid imprisonment."

Meng Zihan was stunned for a long time before she came to her senses from the words "surrender" and "go to jail" and grasped another key point that she couldn't understand.

"Wait a minute... what do you mean by 'illegal gains'?" She frowned. "The money I took was all from the company's legitimate profits, and that's illegal too? Does it have to be returned?"

"Of course. Your company was invested in by Zhang Qingxiang, so the source of the money is not clean. As long as he invests the laundered money into your company, then all the profits generated by this company are, in law, illegal proceeds."

Her gaze swept over Meng Zihan's obviously expensive high-end suit, and then glanced at the designer suitcase by the door.

"In other words, it's not just the money in the company account. The apartment you're currently living in, the designer clothes you're wearing, the jewelry you're wearing, everything you've bought—anything purchased with money earned by the company—is all illegal income, and you have to return every penny. Of course, the apartment you're living in is a service, so you can't get a direct refund. Therefore, you have to return cash equivalent to the market price of the rent."

Meng Zihan was stunned, as if struck by lightning.

She stared blankly at Ye Linchen, her mouth agape for a long time before she asked incredulously, "What?"

"Refund? Such a large sum of money, where am I supposed to get a refund? I didn't even know he was laundering money! I was scammed! Do I have to refund this money too?"

“Yes.” Ye Linchen nodded without hesitation.

"There's nothing I can do. You got to enjoy something that wasn't even yours to begin with. If you don't return the money, you'll be going to jail."

"Or, you could spend a lot of money to hire a good lawyer and bring in all your legal assets to pay off the debt. Maybe the judge will see that you have a good attitude in admitting your guilt and give you a suspended sentence."

Meng Zihan's face turned pale instantly.

She stared blankly ahead, unable to utter a single word.

The living room fell silent, with only her heavy, suppressed breathing audible.

Ye Linchen didn't urge him, and watched quietly.

After a long time, Meng Zihan seemed to have found her soul from another world.

She slowly turned her head, her voice hoarse.

“…This won’t work.” She shook her head vigorously. “I can’t go to jail…I absolutely cannot go to jail!”

She pleaded with Ye Linchen, "Cousin, please help me think of something! There must be another way, right? There must be a way... that can save the company, save all my things, and avoid going to jail!"

Her tears started falling again as she looked pitifully at Ye Linchen, her voice choked with sobs.

"Cousin, you're so amazing, you know everything! You must have another way, please!"

Looking at her like this, Ye Linchen couldn't help but find it laughable.

She knew it would be like this.

Given Meng Zihan's hedonistic, selfish, and irresponsible nature, it would probably be more painful for her than to go to jail after she had tasted the riches and honors of life, forcing her to spit out all the wealth she had gained and return to her previous miserable existence.

"Heh." Ye Linchen sneered, "Meng Zihan, have you been reading too many storybooks? There's no such thing as a free lunch where you get all the good things and never have to do anything bad."

"I'm not some turtle in a wishing well. I'm not obligated to grant your wish. I've already shown you the way. You can choose what to do. I've done my job. Now get out of my house."

After saying that, she stood up and went to open the door.

"That's not fair!"

When Meng Zihan saw that she was about to kick her out, she screamed hysterically.

"This is absolutely unfair! Cousin, you definitely didn't tell me the truth! I had no idea Zhang Qingxiang was using my company to launder money! I'm innocent! That company was built from scratch, it's my life's work! The money was earned through my own hard work, why should I return everything? Why? This is not fair!"

Ye Linchen was annoyed by her noise, so he turned around and stared at her disdainfully.

"Meng Zihan, put your hand on your heart and tell me, did you really put in even the slightest bit of effort into that company?"

"Don't you know your own limitations? What else can you do besides depend on men?"

"Zhang Qingxiang came up with the idea to start the company, he invested the money, he found the people, and he negotiated the business. What did you do?"

"Besides dressing up every day, swiping his card, and enjoying everything he gives you, what else have you done for that company?"

Meng Zihan's screams stopped abruptly, and she stood frozen in place.

"You brought this upon yourself! If you were truly capable, even without this company, couldn't you have made a comeback? In the end, it's because you lack the ability! I've said what I needed to say. Given our relationship, I've already been more than generous by not kicking you while you're down today. Now get out of here!"

Meng Zihan was speechless.

Every word Ye Linchen said was true.

But how could she admit her own incompetence!

Seeing Ye Linchen about to open the door again, Meng Zihan panicked.

She has no other choice now. Ye Linchen is her only hope, and she absolutely cannot give up!

"I'm not leaving!"

Meng Zihan screamed, grabbed Ye Linchen, and knelt down in front of Ye Linchen again with a "plop".

This time, she didn't say anything, but just pressed her forehead against the cold cement floor, thumping it repeatedly.

"Cousin... I'm begging you... please help me..."

Her cries sounded especially heart-wrenching. "You must have another way! You must! Please..."