"Chairman Mu..." Xi Xinyi muttered.

It had already been more than a month since that incident passed. During this time, she struggled to get ahold of herself. She had more or less also heard some of the things he had said to Xi Xiaye the other day too.

After that, for a long time, Mu Yuchen did not come looking for her, and this incident seemed to have settled down. Unexpectedly, he suddenly came looking for her now.

"I wonder what you need me for, Chairman Mu?"

Even though Xi Xinyi was unhappy with Xi Xiaye, her resentment was stronger than her sadness. However, when it came to Mu Yuchen, she dared not be reckless. Perhaps, it was also because this man had always existed as an unapproachable leader, so she knew her place much better in front of him.

"It's been over a month. I want to know what you've reflected on." Mu Yuchen's calm voice came through.

"I... I didn't push her. I'm also a victim. Xi Xiaye... She also told me that she saw the car leaving then. I didn't do it! Don't accuse me!" Xi Xinyi's dim eyes were filled with a hint of nervousness as she quickly defended herself.

"You know how it's like to be falsely accused. Back then, Xiaye suffered so much more than what you're going through now. Don't you have the least bit of self-awareness at all?" Mu Yuchen's voice was very deep, yet it contained a frigidity that made Xi Xinyi shudder.

She snagged her red lips on her teeth before quietly lowering her head. "I admit that I did her wrong in the past, but I've paid the price. Right now, my family's in shambles, my husband has abandoned me, even my child has been stolen from me, my mother's crippled, and the Xi family's no longer around. Isn't such a bitter ending enough? Or do you two just want to push me off the edge?"

"Your life is worthless to me. You brought all of this onto yourself. Your sister has already pleaded for you. You must know that I didn't plan to let you off back then, but for the sake of your sister and your father, I won't make things too hard for you."

"Plead? Would she? Ha! I wouldn't thank her!" Xi Xinyi smiled bitterly. Even though she said it in a provoking tone, it no longer had the hostile threatening attitude.

"She doesn't care about your attitude, but with me, I'm not satisfied with your performance."

"What do you want?" Xi Xinyi fixed her gaze on Mu Yuchen's back as if she was throwing daggers at him.

"You understand very well what your sister wants. She hopes that this incident will just end here, so everyone can keep the peace. I respect what she wants, so I won't continue investigating either. The other day, we unintentionally mentioned you. Obviously, Father hopes that all will return to peace, thus today, I've come looking for you to confirm something first," Mu Yuchen said calmly, yet Xi Xinyi already knew what he meant.

"You don't have to continue. I admit that I've lost completely. As for Xi Xiaye, I have nothing else to say to her. Even though I wasn't the direct cause of the incident this time, I'll consider things even," Xi Xinyi replied desolately and bitterly. She looked like she had resigned to fate. What else could she do right now?

She lost a love that she wanted to hold onto, and her son. All of the things she cared about have broken despite her persistence, and now she was alone like a walking corpse.

She suddenly missed those times in the past. Back then, many people adored her and Han Yifeng tolerated and doted on her, but now, those were all gone. It was as if she had aged by the decade. She could not feel spirited at all. Even if the movies that were released in the theatres performed spectacularly at the box office, it did not give her the kind of happiness she expected to experience.

Everything was ruined by her persistence. The twisted bitterness that she had buried deep down for more than 20 years turned her into the person she was right now.

As she thought about it, she suddenly realized she did not know why she hated Xi Xiaye so much. After all, she had gotten Han Yifeng, and was already the winner, so why did she still have to trample on her?

She thought about Han Yifeng and her son.

Had her son probably learned how to sit by now?

Xi Xinyi felt a sourness rise from her stomach. Her eyes could not help but redden as hot tears instantly fell. "I admit that I went overboard and was wrong to her, but I never once regretted stealing Han Yifeng from her. She doesn't even love Han Yifeng all that much. I'm the only one who loves him the most!"

When he heard this, Mu Yuchen calmly turned around and watched her crying pitifully in such a sorry manner. He did not care how pathetic she appeared as he said indifferently, "You should keep these words for Han Yifeng. Do you still want to see your son?"

After Mu Yuchen said that, Xi Xinyi immediately looked up with her teary eyes and stared at him, stunned. "Do you have a way to help me meet my son?"

Mu Yuchen averted his gaze calmly and looked at the surface of the rippling lake. "I can help you fight for the chance to, but I must be sure that you've turned over a new leaf."

"If you could let me see my son, I'd promise you anything. As long as you can make Han Yifeng return my son to me, there's nothing else I want. I'll do my best to repay you! You have a way, don't you? I'm begging you, Brother-in-law. I'm begging you. Ask my sister to beg Han Yifeng. I know I'm wrong. As long as my son comes back to me, I'll do anything. I can't lose him..."

Xi Xinyi reached out to grab Mu Yuchen's sleeves. She practically kneeled as the suppressed pain in her finally rushed out like a broken dam.

"What are you doing?!" Attacked by surprise, Mu Yuchen instantly frowned and waved her away in disgust. Xi Xinyi practically fell to the ground, but thankfully she managed to hold onto the railing beside her and steadied herself.

"I'm sorry. I was just too emotional, Chairman... Brother-in-law, do you have a way?"

Xi Xinyi did not care how bad she appeared. She lifted a hand to wipe away her tears and was filled with hope as she looked at Mu Yuchen.

Mu Yuchen wiped down his sleeves a few times as if it had been contaminated with something disgusting. His handsome face colored with anger while his dark eyes flashed with gloominess, taking Xi Xinyi by surprise as she stood there trembling from the cold. She dared not anger him any more.

After a while, Mu Yuchen finally calmed down and concluded coldly, "I can help you fight for a chance, but I have one condition."

"What condition? As long as I can do it, I will!"

"You should know who Gu Lingsha is, don't you?" Mu Yuchen tone was extremely indifferent.

"Gu Lingsha?" Xi Xinyi sniffled, wiping her tears as she muttered softly.

Gu Lingsha...

They were not exactly close. That woman seemed prideful. Yue Hai had told her to befriend this woman, and she tried. Gu Lingsha seemed friendly on the surface, but she did not take Xi Xinyi seriously at all.

After several attempts, Xi Xinyi gave up trying and would just greet her if she happened to see her in Qi Kai.

However, why did Mu Yuchen bring this woman's name up now?

Xi Xinyi had some questions. After some time, she sniffled as she looked at Mu Yuchen. "I do see Manager Gu in Qi Kai sometimes, but we don't really talk that much. What do you mean by that?"

Xi Xinyi wiped her tears away as she calmed down. At this point, she was willing to do anything in order to see her son and get him back.

After all this time, only she would understand what kind of struggle she had to go through, especially after her conversation with Xi Xiaye. While she did not gain so much of an insight, she did feel a twist of regret.

Without appreciation and compassion, she would be the one at a disadvantage in the end.

She could not push all the blame to anyone else since she was responsible for the state she was in today.

"I want you to stay near Gu Lingsha and keep an eye on her. Tell me immediately if anything happens." Mu Yuchen was straightforward and told her his intentions. His voice was calm as he lightly rapped the cold railings lightly before him. The clanking gave Xi Xinyi the creeps.

She looked at Mu Yuchen in confusion. She was not sure what he meant, so she asked, "Chairman Mu, please explain more!"

Mu Yuchen glanced at her disinterestedly. "I'm sure you're at least aware of the competition between Glory World and Qi Kai."

"So, you want me to be your spy?" Xi Xinyi caught onto the idea in just a moment.

"I'm sure you know what role you're playing in Qi Kai since they've spent so much money to get Yueying under their wing," Mu Yuchen said. He then peered out at the misty lake. "You're a smart person. Everyone surely thinks you and your sister hate each other after all that's happened, so you are..."

"I'm a valuable chess piece. I understand what you mean, Chairman Mu. So, you want me to be a spy in Qi Kai and keep an eye on Gu Lingsha and the rest?" Xi Xinyi grinned as she looked at Mu Yuchen. A glimmer flashed in her eyes. "How are you so sure that I'll help you? You're the one that caused me most of my misfortunes, Yueying's downfall, and the destruction of the Xi family. Don't you think that I'd hate you? Why should I become your spy willingly?"

Mu Yuchen put on a wry smile. "I can't control what you feel towards me. I can't be sure if you'll help me as well, but I know you're a smart person and you'd know that you don't really have much of a choice. If I can provide you a solution, what kind of answer would you give me?"

Mu Yuchen's gaze became sharp, and she was pressured by his glance alone to the point that she felt suffocated.

She definitely needed a chance. No, she needed a solution. She could not afford to lose her child, on whom she had placed all her hopes.

"Don't you want to know who pushed you and framed you?"

Mu Yuchen was right on point, rendering Xi Xinyi speechless for a moment.

"You found out who it was?" She looked up in shock and stared at him intently.

Mu Yuchen was expressionless as he gave Li Si a signal and quickly handed a document folder to her.

"The information in there will answer you. I've told you what I wanted, and you'll be making the decision. I'm sure you know what the correct answer is. Do you really think Qi Kai will treat you well? Your father still had an important place in your sister's heart, so you're pretty lucky."

He turned around coldly and walked past her."I'll give you some time to think about it. It'll be a huge gamble for you. I'll send Li Si to see you again."

"Chairman Mu..."

Mu Yuchen had already walked away when Xi Xinyi wanted to say something else. In just a moment, he had disappeared amid the misty rain.

On the way back, Li Si observed his Master carefully from the rear-view mirror. He did not understand his Master's behavior. It seemed like he was going to give Xi Xinyi a chance. Was he expecting her and Missus to reconcile after what she had done?

Xi Xinyi looked much worse than before. She seemed as if she was ten years older, her former bright and attractive image nowhere to be seen. Her experience in the past year had left a huge impact on her.

If Master had these thoughts, how could he be so sure Xi Xinyi would help?

Han Yifeng was still in San Francisco while the Han family still held considerable power here. They were not particularly concerned about Xi Xinyi anymore since their divorce was just a matter of time.

A lot of questions flashed past in Li Si's mind, and he finally asked—

"Master, why did you give Xi Xinyi a chance? I thought she had no more value," Li Si asked quietly.

Mu Yuchen pinched the ache that throbbed between his eyebrows. He was startled for a moment when he heard Li Si's question. He responded with a smirk, "Why do you think I didn't eliminate Yueying and her together? Ah Mo found out that Xi Xinyi was in contact with Mr. Wen. I tested her before, and it seems like Mr. Wen acted as a tactician for her."

"Master, what do you mean? Why is Xi Xinyi related to Mr. Wen? Gu Qiwu?" Li Si could feel that something was not right. It was a dangerous territory to step into.

"I'm not sure if the person who blocked your Missus in the tunnel was the same Mr. Wen Xi Xinyi knew, but I'm sure that that person and the one behind the accident in City B last year was Gu Qiwu. He's been targeting me from the very beginning, and he dragged your Missus into this."

"What does he want?" Li Si frowned.

Mu Yuchen's expression was calm while his eyes looked cold. "My gut feeling tells me that it's not just about me. Gu Qiwu is playing a grand game of chess, and I'm probably just one of the pieces on his chessboard." Mu Yuchen did not continue as he turned and looked outside the window.

He did not tell Li Si that all of these probably started twenty years ago.

Amidst the silence, his phone started ringing. It was a call from Ah Bao in City B.

"Master, I've gotten Gu Qiwu and Ms. Lingshi's DNA samples. I separated them into several packages before delivering them to a few well-known hospitals overseas anonymously. I'm sure we'll get the results back very soon." Ah Bao's voice reached him.

Mu Yuchen's expression was still strained as before, and the worries in his eyes deepened. Did he actually already have an idea?

"Alright, stay in City B and keep an eye on them."

"Yes, Master! By the way, Gu Qiwu left City B yesterday. He went to France."

France?

Mu Yuchen's expression darkened as he replied, "Just ignore him. Keep an eye on Doris."

"Yes!"

Their conversation ended swiftly. Mu Yuchen locked his phone and thought to himself. Then, he said, "Head over to the court of law."

The court of law?

Li Si was startled. "Master, are you meeting Chief Zhuang? Today is the weekend."

"It's fine. She should be there today."

Several days ago, Zhuang Shurong mentioned that she was going somewhere for external learning, so she would probably spend her weekend in the office catching up on work.

An hour later, at the City Z XX court, inside the Deputy Chief's quiet and clean office, Zhuang Shurong was sitting before her table and working through some documents when her secretary came knocking on her door.

"Come in!" Zhuang Shurong frowned as her train of thought was disrupted.

"Chief Zhuang, Chairman Mu of Glory World is here."

Zhuang Shurong raised her head when she heard her secretary. "Ah Chen? Let him in!"

Mu Yuchen rarely came to visit Zhuang Shurong. Their family was so low profile that not many people knew about the relationship between Mu Yuchen and Zhuang Shurong, including her relatively new secretary.

Zhuang Shurong put down her documents, she took off her glasses as well before standing up. "Why are you here? How's Xiaye and Xiao Cheng? I've been busy and didn't have time to visit them."

Zhuang Shurong had her secretary prepare some tea as she looked at Mu Yuchen in concern. Her usual strict expression was now tinted with a layer of gentleness.

"They are fine. I'll bring them home next week. Can't you work from home during the weekend? Both you and Father are workaholics." Although Mu Yuchen was concerned, his tone sounded distant.

Zhuang Shurong felt a little hurt, but she still put on a smile. "I had to go somewhere for a few days. Your father is busy with another project. Is there something that you need?"

"Nothing much. I just wanted to find something out from you."

Mu Yuchen nodded to the secretary that served him the tea before looking at Zhuang Shurong. "Xiaye told me you mentioned something about Lingtian when he was still a child. I remembered something, so I wanted to talk to you about it."

Lingtian...

Zhuang Shurong was visibly depressed when the name was mentioned. Mixed emotions rose in her eyes.

She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Ah Chen, what's there to talk about? We don't blame you for what happened to Lingtian. You don't have to bear this burden. You did nothing wrong."

Mu Yuchen stayed silent for a moment while he sipped some tea. "What do you think of Lingtian? I remember you were pretty close to him."

Zhuang Shurong felt guilty when she mentioned this. She looked at Mu Yuchen and sighed. "Ah Tian... He's a smart child, but his personality is very much like your aunt's, quite indecisive. I know the two of you don't get along. You guys always have a conflict with each other although you two are siblings. I sided with him most of the time when there was a fight. Your father and I feel sorry for you. We're not good parents, but your aunt..."

"It's alright. I'm not here to talk about those. Father and you are great. There's nothing to be sorry about. Lingtian's core values are fundamentally different from mine. I know he's been having some opinions about me, but I'm not sure what I did wrong."

"It's not your fault, Ah Chen. Do you remember you brought a Tibetan Mastiff back from Grandmother's place?" Zhuang Shurong asked.

Mu Yuchen nodded. "Of course. I won it from a bet with Grandpa. Lingtian and Lingshi liked it very much as well. It gave us a lot of happy memories together.