After Zhao Guodong cleverly feigned ignorance, Guo Guanghua's inner turmoil exploded like a powder keg.

However, the disguise skills honed through years of navigating complex interpersonal relationships and power struggles made this slight displeasure pass by as quickly as a shooting star across the night sky.

In an instant, a seemingly kind and friendly smile returned to his face.

The smile was as warm as the spring sun, blooming on his face, but deep in his eyes lurked a subtle, almost imperceptible, sinister glint, like a turbulent undercurrent hidden beneath a calm lake.

He leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between himself and Zhao Guodong, and said in a seductive tone, "Section Chief Zhao, you must know that time waits for no one. Such a golden opportunity is like a fleeting shooting star in the sky; once missed, it will be hard to come by again."

Think about it, if you miss this opportunity, no matter how much effort and time you spend later, you might not be able to get such a chance to rise to the top in one step. So you must seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

His voice carried an undisguised anxiety, his tone unconsciously rising, as if Zhao Guodong's reply concerned his life and fortune, every word urging Zhao Guodong to nod and agree quickly.

The words were still lingering in the room when Guo Guanghua could no longer contain himself. He suddenly stood up and strode straight to the window.

His steps were quick and powerful, each step landing heavily on the floor with a dull thud, as if he wanted to vent all his inner restlessness and unease through these footsteps.

Upon reaching the window, he paused briefly, as if trying to suppress his inner turmoil and compose himself. Then, he leaned out the window, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, cautiously surveying his surroundings.

It's clear from his actions that he had no intention of giving Zhao Guodong ample time to consider things; in his mind, this game of interests had reached a critical juncture where every second counted.

Just then, a dirty stray cat suddenly leaped across the windowsill, letting out a shrill meow.

The sudden sound was like a thunderclap exploding in the silent room, instantly shattering the brief tranquility.

The scream echoed in the silent room, creeping eerily into everyone's hearts, carrying an indescribable sense of unease that sent chills down their spines.

Guo Guanghua and Zhao Guodong were both startled by the sudden commotion.

Guo Guanghua shuddered reflexively, nearly dropping the teacup he had just picked up; Zhao Guodong straightened up abruptly, his hands, which had been resting on the table, clenched into fists.

The two of them, like two startled cheetahs, looked warily toward the direction from which the noise was coming from outside the window.

Their eyes were filled with vigilance, as if countless unknown dangers lurked in the darkness, ready to pounce and devour them at any moment.

In a corner of the room, while the other two were completely distracted by other things, Xia Wan and Xia Shuyu moved their feet silently and quickly, like two nimble cats, adjusting their relative positions.

Their movements were as light as a feather, each step landing without a sound, like a breeze brushing across the water, leaving no trace; they were as fast as lightning, changing positions in the blink of an eye, making them almost imperceptible.

Every step was taken with extreme caution, as if even the slightest sound would be like a boulder thrown into a tranquil lake, creating ripples and alerting others, thus revealing one's whereabouts.

They knew that their every move at this moment was related to the fate of the entire Xia family, and they could not afford to make the slightest mistake.

At this moment, Xia Wan was burning with raging anger, which seemed to be about to devour her whole.

She bit her lower lip so hard that faint bloodstains appeared, and her hands unconsciously clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms.

However, she knew that this was not the right time to vent her emotions. If she acted impulsively, she would not only fail to save the Xia family, but she might also put herself and her aunt in dire straits.

So she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but her slightly trembling hands betrayed her anger.

She carefully leaned close to Xia Shuyu's ear and whispered in an almost inaudible voice, "Aunt, you don't know this, but Guo Guanghua is carrying a very important letter! And that letter is full of accusations against the Xia family. We have to do everything we can to get our hands on it later!"

Her eyes revealed determination and resolve, as if she had made up her mind that even if the road ahead was full of thorns and dangers, she would fight her way out for the Xia family, get that letter, and clear their name.

Upon hearing these words, Xia Shuyu couldn't help but look suspicious, her eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

She lowered her voice as well, responding cautiously, "Wan'er, how did you find out about this?"

In this perilous situation, any unknown information could hold hidden secrets, and she was eager to know the source of Xia Wan's message in order to better deal with the crisis.

Faced with her aunt's question, Xia Wan gently shook her head, a mysterious glint in her eyes. She then gave her a look that seemed to suggest that she would explain the reasons to her in detail when the time was right.

In fact, only Xia Wan herself knew best that the reason she was able to know such confidential matters was entirely due to the system.

Not long ago, through the system's investigation and search, its powerful function acted like a pair of X-ray vision, piercing through layers of fog and allowing her to successfully obtain important intelligence about Guo Guanghua and that crucial letter.

Right now, her father has just agreed to return to the Xia family. At such a critical juncture, she cannot stand by and watch the Xia family suffer unfair treatment or even be demoted because of these unfounded accusations.

Otherwise, if the Xia family falls into trouble, it will inevitably affect their entire family, and their originally peaceful life will fall into an abyss of no return.

She knew that she bore the heavy responsibility of protecting the Xia family and could not allow the enemy's conspiracy to succeed.

After finally seeing what had attracted everyone's attention, Zhao Guodong slowly withdrew his gaze.

His movements were steady and slow, as if he were trying to sort out his inner thoughts.

He sat back down in the large chair with a blank expression. The chair made a slight creaking sound, which was particularly clear in the quiet room, as if it were an accompaniment to this tense game.