"Thanks." She waved the file folder and turned to walk into the villa.

The living room was pitch black, except for the motion-sensor light in the entryway, which turned on with a warm yellow glow, illuminating the empty hallway.

As Yu Jiuyuan changed her shoes, her gaze swept over the shoe cabinet. Rong Shenghan's slippers were still in their original place, but they were covered with a thin layer of dust, as if they had been forgotten for a long time.

She suddenly remembered how she had chased him away that morning, the clear handprint on his face, and his last words, "Remember to eat on time." A sting ran through her heart, not painful, but slightly itchy.

"Hypocritical," she muttered under her breath, then turned and went upstairs.

When the study light came on, Yu Jiuyuan noticed an unfamiliar envelope on the desk.

There was no stamp, no signature; it was clearly slipped in secretly. She opened the envelope; inside was only a photograph.

Rong Shenghan stood downstairs at the Su family's company, wearing a black coat. His face was frighteningly pale, but he still stood up straight, his eyes as cold as ice.

In the background of the photo, several men in black suits can be seen surrounding him, creating a tense atmosphere.

On the back of the photo, written in pen, was a line of text: "He went to the Su family today to negotiate terms, offering 30% of Rong's shares in exchange for them not touching anyone close to you."

Yu Jiuyuan's fingers tightened suddenly as she gripped the photo, the edges of the paper digging painfully into her fingertips.

30% of Rong's shares? How many hidden cards does that seemingly gentle and harmless man have that she doesn't know about? Is his so-called "going home to take care of business" really just a way of shielding her from the Su family's attacks in this almost self-destructive manner?

absurd.

Yu Jiuyuan crumpled the photo into a ball and threw it into the trash can.

She didn't need his protection, much less this self-sacrificing "affection." Did he think this would atone for his concealment? Would it make her forgive his unspeakable secrets?

That's too naive.

She opened the file bag Xie Zhecheng had given her, and the information inside was astonishingly detailed. Her cousin Su had embezzled research funds, falsified experimental data, and was even suspected of commercial bribery—each of which was enough to ruin his reputation.

Xie Zhecheng's efficiency is always astonishing, like a precise scalpel that can instantly dissect the enemy's weak point.

Yu Jiuyuan took out her phone, found Xie Zhecheng's number, and typed a message: "The information was very useful; I owe you a favor."

I received a reply quickly, containing only two words: "No rush."

She looked at those two words and suddenly smiled.

Hsieh Che-cheng's "not in a hurry" is actually the smartest investment. He never urges for returns, but he always manages to make you willingly owe him a favor at the right time.

This is far superior to Rong Shenghan's clumsy sacrifice.

The snow outside the window has started falling again, a light drizzle, as if mourning for someone.

Yu Jiuyuan walked to the window, pulled back the curtains, and saw that the street corner opposite the villa was empty; the black sedan was gone.

Rong Shenghan is probably really gone.

That's fine.

She withdrew her gaze and looked back at the documents on the table, her hesitation replaced by determination.

She will collect everything the Su family owes Yuan Xu, and everything they owe her, little by little, with interest.

As for Rong Shenghan...

He'd better pray he never shows his face in front of her again.

Otherwise, she wouldn't mind letting him know what true "taming" really means.

The snow fell silently.

The lights in the villa stayed on all night, like a cluster of sparks burning on a crack, reflecting the dark undercurrents surging in the young lady's eyes, and foreshadowing that this game was about to enter a more brutal phase.