Volume One, Chapter 16: Coming to Find Me in the Dead of Night
Page 1/3
Xie Huaijin knew that He Yancheng had no intention of helping him at all. Being sensible, he could only change the subject, exchange a few polite words, and then leave. Only when Ji Yao saw Xie Huaijin leave did she come out of the bedroom.
As soon as she emerged, she saw He Yancheng sitting on the sofa. The light and shadow above refracted down, carving his face into an even more perfect sculpture.
“You knew I was here, so why did you deliberately lure Xie Huaijin over?”
When he spoke, he could clearly hear the sorrow and anger in her voice.
He Yancheng sat on the sofa, his long legs crossed elegantly. His chin relaxed slightly, and his tone was calm and indifferent: “Are you angry?”
Could she not be angry? Xie Huaijin almost discovered her! Xie Huaijin was so clever and calculating—if he found out she was out late at night with He Yancheng and not at home, it would become the greatest evidence against her in their divorce case. It might even turn the tables, accusing her of having had an affair first.
Ji Yao suppressed the dark surge of emotions in her heart and deliberately kept her expression calm: “No, it’s just that you should have at least notified me first, so I could be mentally prepared.”
“Prepare for what? You’re doing just fine.”
“...”
For some reason, she always felt like she was speaking to a wall. The more she tried to understand He Yancheng, the more bewildered she became. He had many chances earlier to say that one sentence and prevent Xie Huaijin from reaching the bedroom door, but he didn’t—almost as if he deliberately staged this drama, waiting for the right moment.
The blizzard had completely ceased. Ji Yao had no intention of staying here overnight and was finally able to find an excuse to leave.
She descended the stairs, intending to hail a taxi at the community entrance. But in the hallway, a tall, slender man with long legs approached her with a graceful yet casual gait. When she truly saw the man’s face, the fingers gripping her bag tightened slightly, trying to mask the surge of panic inside...
“Wife, why are you coming out this way?”
Ji Yao’s whole body tensed instantly. She had clearly come down half an hour ago, so why hadn’t Xie Huaijin left the community yet and was still here? Had he discovered something and was deliberately waiting for her?
She drew a sharp breath inward, carefully hiding any sign of trouble from Xie Huaijin: “I... just finished submitting some documents and was about to head back.”
“Documents? What kind of documents require you to come to someone’s home? And what was that message you sent me earlier, saying you wouldn’t come home? Also, as a married woman, are you planning to spend the night at another man’s house?”
After being coldly rejected by He Yancheng, Xie Huaijin had originally planned to hide downstairs and wait for He Yancheng and that mysterious woman to appear the next morning to take photos for leverage. But unexpectedly, the first person he saw was his own wife!
Faced with Xie Huaijin’s triple questions, Ji Yao’s voice remained calm and serene: “You’re asking me, but what about you? Why are you here?”
Xie Huaijin instinctively glanced at the empty seat opposite, his eyes somewhat distant.
“I... came to see Mr. He, the He Yancheng I took you to meet before.”
Ji Yao feigned surprise: “He lives here too?”
Xie Huaijin’s tone grew more indifferent: “So Gu Yanzhe lives here as well?”
Page 2/3
“How do you know my boss is called Gu Yanzhe?”
“I looked it up.”
“You really don’t trust me working outside? You actually investigated me?”
After a long pause, Xie Huaijin replied, “Wife, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I’m just afraid you’ll be taken advantage of. That studio you work at is in your family’s old house. Maybe Gu Yanzhe took pity on that and hired you. You lack experience and are eager to prove yourself. I’m worried he might lead you down a bad path that you can’t turn back from.”
Ji Yao understood his hint. When their eyes met, she was confident: “He did guide me, but I was going to ask you about it at home. You’re from the business district and know Mr. Gu’s character better than I do. It seems I don’t need to consider it anymore. When I get back, I’ll refuse him.”
“What did he say to you?”
Ji Yao hesitated, then said: “Nothing much—just that I should use two hundred million yuan from selling the house for an investment. He said his friend has a channel that can yield twenty percent returns in a month.”
“Twenty percent?!”
Twenty percent means forty million yuan—a month! Even his annual dividends don’t reach that much!
Ji Yao blinked and lied: “That’s a lot. I was tempted at the time, but I could tell you didn’t trust Mr. Gu. Since he’s so unreliable and the investment so risky, I decided not to invest.”
“Invest! Of course you should invest!”
Xie Huaijin suddenly grew very agitated. After learning that Ji Yao’s parents had sold the old house, and that land was lost forever, and seeing the company’s financial statement that afternoon showing less than one million yuan in movable cash, he knew he needed money to continue cooperating with He Yancheng. He was extremely short on funds. Gu Yanzhe’s character was questionable, but as a wealthy second-generation heir, he had connections and many ways to make money. Such a good opportunity, and he didn’t even have to invest his own money—how could he not urge Ji Yao to invest?
Thinking this, he began to persuade her: “Wife, since this is your first partnership with Gu Yanzhe, don’t invest all your money at once. You can start with one million yuan. With a twenty percent return, you’ll get two hundred thousand in a month. If you really get that money, we can invest the remaining two hundred million later.”
Actually, this investment was a trap Ji Yao set for Xie Huaijin. She expected him to be cautious, but not so cautious. To get him on board quickly and reclaim everything that belonged to her, she boldly opened her mouth.
“My parents sold the house for two hundred million yuan. It would look stingy to only invest one million. I’ll invest ten million instead!”
Xie Huaijin didn’t expect her to be so generous. She really looked like a nouveau riche now. He felt a bit disdainful but, for the sake of making money, he still played the gentleman: “Wife, to be honest, my company’s financial situation has some problems recently. I really can’t come up with ten million yuan to invest...”
“Husband, what are you thinking? Of course the ten million will come from my parents. You just need to strategize for me, and we’ll split the returns.”
Xie Huaijin was surprised: “Really?”
“Of course. But you’ll have to keep a close eye on it for me.”
Looking at Ji Yao in front of him, Xie Huaijin felt she was both foolish and simple. Only by heaven’s blessing did their family get that prime location and make a windfall. People without ability, even with money, can’t hold onto wealth.
Thinking about the imminent money, Xie Huaijin felt delighted and didn’t dwell on her late-night meeting with Gu Yanzhe. But ten million was not a small sum. Giving it to someone else required caution; otherwise, it might as well go into his own pocket!
“Wife, what you’re telling me tonight is just what you’ve relayed. I’m sure Gu Yanzhe isn’t asleep yet. Since I’m here, take me to meet him. I’ll discuss the investment face to face. If it’s reliable, then we’ll decide.”
Page 3/3
Ji Yao thought Xie Huaijin had already fallen into the trap, but he struck her with another blow. Her heart skipped a beat.
“When I went, there was someone in Mr. Gu’s room. It’s not appropriate to see him now. If you really don’t trust him, why don’t you call him and talk on the phone?”
“That works too.”
Ji Yao’s heart pounded as she dialed Gu Yanzhe’s number. She hadn’t arranged this with him beforehand. It was completely up to fate. If this call didn’t happen, Xie Huaijin’s sharp mind would know she was lying. Not only would he become more cautious and refuse to fall for the trap, but he would also keep investigating why she was here!
So this call had to be made!
Once connected, Xie Huaijin handed her phone to Xie Huaijin, who spoke with Gu Yanzhe for a while. Ten minutes later, he returned the phone to her. Before she could ask, he said with a smile:
“Wife, rest assured and invest! Gu Yanzhe said he’ll guarantee it if anything happens.”
“...”
Unexpectedly, Gu Yanzhe really helped her! Looks like she should find time to have a meal with him and figure out what’s going on!
...
On the executive balcony, He Yancheng stood in the shadows, having removed his coat and now wearing a black turtleneck sweater. His eyes were dark, and his brows carried a hint of intoxication as he stared at the two figures below, a man and a woman. His phone rang beside him.
He answered and heard Gu Yanzhe’s voice: “Brother, I followed your instructions and didn’t refuse any of Ji Yao’s requests. She lied to her husband, saying I told her to invest ten million. I helped her cover it up. I’m the president of the Gu Group, yet you sent me to lead a small workshop just to protect her. I don’t get it—did she save your life? Is she your first love? Why do you care so much about her?”
“Thanks.”
Gu Yanzhe was shocked: “Heavens! To hear such polite words from you, He Yancheng, is astonishing! I’m really curious about your relationship with her.”
He Yancheng lowered his gaze, never taking his eyes off Ji Yao’s figure below, and his voice was hoarse when he spoke: “She’s my sister.”
“So she’s your sister? The long-lost heiress of the He family? Then why didn’t you—”
He Yancheng didn’t want to hear more from Gu Yanzhe and hung up.
Downstairs.
Ji Yao and Xie Huaijin were walking side by side when her phone rang. She instinctively lowered her eyes to see He Yancheng’s name on the screen, immediately turned the volume down, and answered quietly without letting Xie Huaijin notice.
“Come to my house at midnight tonight for an injection.”