Chapter 108 Reversal (Part 1)

The morning light is like melted gold, gently filling the living room through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows of Room 1601.

Yu Ling suddenly opened her eyes in the soft quilt.

There was no expected stomach cramps, no cold, desperate feeling of suffocation. There was only a sense of weakness after near collapse, and an extremely unreal calm.

The sun shone warmly on her face, bringing a new warmth. She was dazed for a few seconds. Yesterday's nightmare, like a faded silent film, assaulted her memory with a chilling aftermath—the cold office, the forged transfer records, the deadly email, the voice that sounded like Zhou Zheng's verdict, the humiliation of being "escorted" from the company, and the glaring redness and blisters on the back of Zhao Chen's hand...

My heart suddenly sank!

She subconsciously reached to her side—empty.

"Chen!" She blurted out, her voice hoarse from waking up and a hint of panic. She propped herself up, the blanket slipped off, and looked around.

The living room was empty, but the air was filled with the comforting aroma of food frying?

Just then—

"Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong!"

“Buzz buzz buzz—”

“Ding! Ding! Ding!”

The phone she had muted and dropped on the bedside table was now flashing and vibrating at a frantic pace! Various notification sounds intertwined, instantly shattering the morning tranquility, like dense drumbeats beating against Yu Ling's heart!

What happened again?!

Yu Ling's heart instantly sank to the bottom, her fingertips cold as she reached out with trembling hands to grab the hot potato-like phone.

The screen was blindingly bright.

The lock screen is completely flooded!

The red number of the missed call is jumping wildly: 99+

The notification bar is filled with reminders of unread text messages!

What was even more striking was that the headlines of the pushed news were like blood-red barrages, shooting out one after another and hitting Yu Ling's retina hard!

"[Haicheng Police Official Release] The case of the Starlight Technology Chairman being framed has been solved! The mastermind, Gu (female), has been apprehended! She hired thugs to fabricate evidence and frame him!"

[Financial Headlines] Shocking reversal! Xinyue Technology issues apology: admits to being deceived, publicly apologizes to Starlight Technology and Ms. Yu Ling, and withdraws all accusations!

[Starlight Technology Official Announcement] The Board of Directors has resolved urgently: Ms. Yu Ling has been reinstated as Chairman immediately! The company will fully cooperate with the judiciary and hold those responsible for the false accusations accountable!

[Exclusive] Gu Qianqian, daughter of the Gu Group, has been criminally detained by police on charges of commercial smear campaigns, fabricating evidence, and illegal detention! Footage from the scene has been released!

[Breaking News] Starlight Technology's stock price surged at the opening! Market confidence has returned!

Every title!

Every word!

It was like a thunder that tore through the darkness and exploded in Yu Ling's chaotic mind!

She stared at the screen of her phone, her fingers cramping slightly from exerting too much force, her knuckles turning white. She clicked on each item, then exited it, her eyes wandering over the explosive titles and content that could overturn her entire world.

The police notice, written in white on a blue background, was carefully worded, yet every word carried weight: Gu Qianqian (Gu)… hired assassins… forged bank statements… forged emails… bribed Xinyue Technology insiders… framed… criminally detained…

Xinyue Technology's humble, remorseful apology, stamped with a bright red official seal, admitted to being "deceived," admitted that "the evidence was fabricated," extended its "most sincere apology" to her and Xinghui, and promised to "bear all legal consequences"...

The Starlight board's strongly worded and clear-cut announcement announced her "immediate reinstatement," emphasized her "integrity and loyalty to the company demonstrated in this incident," and pledged to "severely punish the false accuser."

And those K-line charts in the financial news that showed Starlight Technology's stock price soaring like a rocket...

Overnight!

Just overnight!

Everything is turned upside down!

She went from being a "secret whistleblower" facing imprisonment to a hero whose innocence was redressed, who turned the tide, and even caused the company's stock price to soar?!

The overwhelming onslaught of information was like a tsunami, instantly drowning Yu Ling! Shock, ecstasy, bewilderment, disbelief... a cascade of emotions raced through her chest, causing her to tremble all over, barely able to hold the phone! Tears suddenly burst forth without warning, this time no longer the coldness of despair, but the warmth of survival!

She suddenly threw off the quilt, stepped barefoot on the warm wooden floor, and staggered out of the bedroom as if looking for a life-saving straw!

The aroma of the food became stronger.

She followed the aroma and rushed to the entrance of the open kitchen.

Then, her steps suddenly stopped.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Zhao Chen stood with his back to her in the bright morning light.

He was no longer wearing the expensive suit he'd worn yesterday. Instead, he was wearing an ordinary, slightly washed, light gray cotton T-shirt and comfortable home pants. The most eye-catching thing was the apron he wore around his waist, emblazoned with a giant cartoon Shiba Inu and stained with a few oil stains!

He was hunched over, concentrating on the sizzling eggs in the pan, spatula in one hand, his movements clumsily and cautiously evident, as if he were conducting a delicate chemistry experiment.

His hands, which should have been controlling a huge business empire and signing orders worth tens of billions, were now clumsily trying to flip the fried egg in the pan.

"Sizzle!" The egg liquid splashed a few drops of oil, and he hurriedly dodged backward. In the process, the sleeve of his T-shirt slipped down, revealing the burn on the back of his right hand, which was still red and swollen, and even more glaring! Several transparent blisters were clearly bulging, shining with a fragile luster in the morning light.

Yu Ling's gaze was fixed on the burn. Her heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, the bitterness and heartache instantly drowning out the ecstasy of having survived the ordeal! It was these same hands... the ones that had clumsily brought her the spilled ginger soup yesterday, clumsily comforted her, clumsily expressed their "faith" in the law...

At this moment, Zhao Chen seemed to hear some movement behind him. He paused and turned around slowly and stiffly.

"Awake?" His voice was slightly hoarse from waking up in the morning, and there was also a barely perceptible hint of relief, as if a heavy burden had finally been lifted.

A gentle, somewhat clumsy smile blossomed on his face, his eyes fixed on the lingering tear marks on her face, his eyes as soft as melted honey.

"Are you hungry? The fried eggs will be ready soon. They're a little mushy... uh... I tried my best." He scratched his head a little embarrassedly, and the movement caused the burn on the back of his hand. He frowned almost imperceptibly, but immediately covered it up.

He raised his spatula and pointed to the milk and cut fruit already prepared on the table next to him. His smile was warm and healing, with a simple and reassuring sense of "the dust has settled":

"See, what did I say?" His tone carried the simple satisfaction of a "little man" who saw justice finally coming, and a barely perceptible hint of "fear".

"The law... the law will indeed clear people's names, right? I knew it! The innocent will be cleared! Now it's all over! It's okay!" He repeated, as if trying to convince himself, as if to comfort her. His eyes were as clear as a young boy who had not experienced the world, and there was no trace of the cold figure in the safe house last night who issued deadly orders like a king of the dark night.

Yu Ling stood there, tears silently streaming down her face. She didn't respond to his "emotional" comments about his legal innocence, nor did she look at the fried egg, which was burnt around the edges.

Her eyes fell on the hideous burn on the back of his hand.

Then, her gaze briefly and impassively swept over the collar of his cotton T-shirt—was there a trace of ash, almost imperceptible, as if instantly burned by intense heat? And that faint smell of gunpowder seemed to be emanating from there?

Qixia Mountain…burnt villas…the roar of drones…

A thought so clear and almost terrifying flashed through her mind like lightning!

It's him!

It must be him!

This man wearing a cartoon apron, clumsily frying eggs for her, and saying "the law will clear people's names"!

Last night, when she curled up in his arms and cried, his "fangs" had already torn apart the darkness and swept away all the evil spirits for her!

The huge shock, the surging love, the indescribable heartache and fear, like a huge wave, instantly swallowed Yu Ling! She could no longer restrain herself and rushed forward like a tired bird returning to its nest!

She didn't look at the fried egg, nor did she take the milk he offered her.

She opened her arms and, from behind, used all her strength to hug Zhao Chen's thin waist tightly! She buried her face deep in his broad and warm back! Her nose touched his soft cotton T-shirt, and she breathed in greedily and deeply!

The smell of sunshine.

The burnt aroma of fried eggs.

There was also the faint, yet extremely clear smell of cold gunpowder smoke coming from the distant Qixia Mountain, where electronic equipment was instantly burned!

This aura, like a brand, silently announced the thunderous and decisive blow that took place in the darkness last night!

The moment she threw herself into his arms, Zhao Chen's body stiffened noticeably, ever so slightly. Then, he relaxed, letting her hold him. The hand that wasn't holding the spatula naturally rested on the back of her arm around his waist, a soothing warmth.

"What's wrong?" He tilted his head slightly, his voice low and gentle, with just the right amount of "confusion" and doting, "Are you stunned by the good news?"

Yu Ling didn't say anything, but just hugged him tighter and rubbed her cheek against his warm back, as if to confirm the authenticity of this warmth and strength.

Her tears silently soaked his T-shirt. All the questions, all the guesses, all the thrills, were answered with the most definite answer in this silent embrace.

She didn't need to ask.

He can't speak either.

This is an unspoken secret between them.