The office door had just closed when Yang Xin couldn't help but ask, "Miss, are we really letting them go just like that? What about our loan..."
Liu Yutong's long lashes lowered and then lifted again. "Just two small fry—nothing more than pawns pushed forward as shields."
She turned to Yun Cheng. "Investigate that Director Wang from the Industrial Bank's risk control department. He oversees fund approvals. I want to know everyone he's been in contact with recently."
Yun Cheng asked, "Miss, should we look into the risk control departments of other banks as well?"
Liu Yutong shook her head slightly. "No, one is enough."
Yun Cheng nodded again and left the office.
Liu Yutong then looked at Yang Xin and instructed, "Inform our suppliers that our company’s annual gathering is next month. Invite them to dinner—anyone who wants their payments can come."
After Yang Xin also left, the office finally fell silent, leaving her alone. She pinched the bridge of her nose, her delicate profile appearing weary under the light.
"Honestly... I swore I’d live a carefree life this time, so why am I tangled up in this mess again? My peaceful countryside dreams..."
Before Liu Yutong could even close her eyes for a quick rest, her phone suddenly rang.
She glanced at the caller ID—Lin Muyang.
The man was as blunt as ever, his tone carrying a hint of restrained anger.
"It wasn’t me. Do you believe that?"
Liu Yutong straightened up, brushing aside the stray strands of hair falling over her forehead. "Why wouldn’t I believe you?"
Her response instantly rendered Lin Muyang speechless. All the arguments he’d prepared in advance were now useless.
Liu Yutong was always direct, never one for beating around the bush.
At least talking to a woman like her wasn’t exhausting.
"Mr. Lin, did you call just to tell me this?"
"If you need money, I can—"
"No need. The Dragon Society isn’t short on funds."
Liu Yutong hung up without hesitation.
On the other end, Lin Muyang stared at his phone in stunned silence for a few seconds before dialing another number.
Once the call connected, he exploded.
"Are you happy now?!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don’t tell me you had nothing to do with the Dragon Society’s troubles!"
"That girl is someone you like—why would I target her? Besides, she’s been rejecting you all this time. What’s wrong with teaching her a lesson? Marrying you would be a blessing for her! How dare she be so picky?!"
"You—"
"Enough! Don’t use that tone with me. I’m your father, not your punching bag! You ungrateful brat!"
The person on the other end was furious too, hanging up immediately.
Lin Muyang, left with another abrupt disconnection, wore a conflicted expression.
Could it really not have been his father’s doing?
But if not him, who else could pressure the banks into cutting off the Dragon Society’s loans with a single word?
Meanwhile, in a certain compound.
The middle-aged leader angrily slammed the phone down and turned to his secretary. "Tell me, how did I end up with a son like this? He’s driving me mad."
Secretary Huang handed him a cup of warm Longjing tea, soothingly saying, "The young master is still inexperienced. In a few years, he’ll understand your intentions."
The leader took a sip of tea and continued, "For the sake of a woman, he’s lost all sense of judgment—even suspecting his own father."
"Still, this is a good opportunity to put some pressure on that girl. I do like her—she knows her place, never oversteps. Unlike some people who grow more reckless the more power they get."
"By the way, I heard a body was pulled from the river yesterday?"
Secretary Huang quickly replied, "Yes, the deceased was Deng Liang. The police are still determining whether it was an accident..."
The leader’s expression turned grave. "Whether it was an accident or not, investigate thoroughly—swiftly and severely! No one involved is to be spared!"
"Yes, sir!" As Secretary Huang left, he noticed the leader’s gaze lingering on the calligraphy banner on the wall that read "Integrity and Honesty."
.............
That night.
Bright Pearl City, a residential district.
Li Xiaohui had been praying fervently that her father wouldn’t return, that he wouldn’t come back.
But fate had other plans. Her father did return and, shortly after arriving home, summoned her from school.
Mr. Li was intently watching the news on TV.
Li Xiaohui and a young man in his early thirties sat obediently beside him, neither daring to make a sound for fear of disturbing him.
Compared to Li Xiaohui, the young man’s posture was noticeably more upright and disciplined. He wore a prosecutor’s uniform—not from Bright Pearl City’s Supervision Bureau, but from a higher-level institution. His rank was no small matter—he was the head of the Second Prosecution Department of the S Supervision Bureau. His name was Zheng Yi.
He also had another identity: Li Xiaohui’s eldest cousin.
After half an hour of tense silence...
Mr. Li finally turned away from the news and looked at Li Xiaohui. "Hui Hui, how’s school been lately? Have you been skipping classes to hang out with troublemakers or wasting time online?"
Here it comes.
Despite mentally preparing herself, Li Xiaohui couldn’t help but feel a pang of fear, her fingers unconsciously digging into the sofa.
Zheng Yi, seeing his cousin’s nervousness, was about to step in and ease the tension when Mr. Li raised a hand to stop him. "Let her speak for herself!"
Zheng Yi immediately fell silent. Even as the head of the S Supervision Bureau’s Second Prosecution Department, he knew better than to defy his uncle’s orders.
Li Xiaohui clenched her teeth and suddenly stood up.
Zheng Yi’s heart sank. Oh no, she’s about to rebel—she’s going to defy Uncle head-on!
But the next moment, Li Xiaohui pulled out a stack of certificates from her bag and dumped them onto the coffee table with a flourish.
"This is the Outstanding Freshman Military Training Certificate."
"This is the Outstanding Student Council Member Certificate."
"This is the Best Debater Award from the Freshman Debate Competition."
"This is the University-Level Merit Student Certificate."
"This is the 'Clean Plate Campaign' 'Champion Eater' Certificate—60 consecutive days without leaving a single grain!"
"This is the Certificate of Bravery from Carp Creek Police Station."
"And this is..."
Zheng Yi watched in stunned silence as Li Xiaohui listed off each certificate one by one.
Wait, little cousin... are you serious?
Since when did you become this outstanding?
This isn’t like you at all.
And what even is a "Champion Eater" certificate?
Since when do schools hand those out?
If he didn’t know Li Xiaohui’s true nature—especially the fact that she was still running around with a girl from the streets—he might’ve actually been fooled by these certificates.
But while he wasn’t buying it, Mr. Li was.
The stern expression on Mr. Li’s face softened slightly as he picked up the certificates one by one, examining them carefully. His brows gradually relaxed.
Hmm... these don’t seem forged.
Li Xiaohui stole a glance at her father's reaction and quietly sighed in relief. "If you don't believe me, you can call the school and ask," she said.
After a moment of silence, Father Li finally broke into a smile. "At least you didn’t embarrass me. Keep it up."
Zheng Yi: "..."
Wait, Uncle, isn’t your attitude shift a bit too sudden?
Just a second ago, you looked ready to put her through an inquisition, and now you’re all doting father?
Li Xiaohui relaxed completely, her lips curling into a grin before she quickly pressed them together, pretending to be obedient as she nodded. "Dad, I’ll keep working hard!"
Then, remembering something, she hurried over and eagerly started massaging her father’s shoulders. "Dad, since I’m being so good now, maybe you could stop scolding me all the time?"
"Oh, right! Dad, I have a gift for you."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a carefully handmade photo album, handing it to him.
This album was special—it wasn’t filled with ordinary photos. Instead, it contained clippings from newspapers and reprinted images, chronicling her father’s life from his youth in the countryside up to the present.
Beside each photo was a playful selfie of Li Xiaohui, cleverly mimicking her father’s poses and angles, creating a heartwarming, cross-generational connection.
Father Li examined it with rare focus, more intently than he ever did with important documents.
When he reached the last page, he found a genuine father-daughter photo—the only one they’d taken together since Li Xiaohui had grown up.
Beneath it was a small line of text: "Eighteen Years Chasing the Light—For the Back I’ll Always Follow."
The stern man who had spent his life composed and unshaken felt his heart melt completely in that moment.
For the first time, he realized just how much of his daughter’s life he’d missed because of work...
As he silently reflected, overwhelmed with guilt—
Li Xiaohui was sneakily studying his expression. Seeing that her father seemed truly won over, she gloated inwardly: "Hehehe... Liu Yutong’s psychological tactics really work. Oh, Daddy dearest, consider yourself handled!"
