Late at night.
Zhao Corporation Building, Security Department.
Click-clack, click-clack.
The sound of keyboards clacking echoed one after another, filling the entire space with a tense atmosphere.
“Mr. Zhao, this is the current situation.”
The head of the Security Department was a man in his forties, deeply balding with a large belly, showing his dedication to the job.
At this moment, he was nervously reporting to a man dressed in blue pajamas.
“You’re saying that company secrets were stolen? And you only just discovered this now?!”
The man’s face darkened as he spoke, his aura cold and forbidding like a wrathful deity, making those around him reluctant to approach.
“Y-yes… yes.”
The Security Department head stammered repeatedly, sweat already pouring down his forehead.
“We followed the company’s procedure to regularly check and maintain the surveillance equipment, so we had no reason to suspect anything. That’s how the confidential files were stolen. But based on our analysis, this was an inside job—external thieves couldn’t have bypassed our security system.”
He paused before continuing, “We are currently investigating suspects. Please give us some time.”
Zhao Yicheng narrowed his eyes slightly, a murderous aura radiating from him.
The Security Department head felt the chill and involuntarily shivered in his legs.
The next moment, the chill vanished as a large hand patted his shoulder heavily, the tone serious.
“Confirm and apprehend the culprit as soon as possible. You know how much damage losing those confidential files will do to the company’s stock price. If any of this year’s Middle Management Tender Plans get leaked—even if only partially—to our competitors, you should understand the consequences.”
“Y-yes… yes.”
The Security Department head nodded rapidly, cold sweat covering his face.
Seeing this, Zhao Yicheng didn’t press further and waved for him to get back to work.
The Security Department head felt as if he had been granted a royal pardon and immediately turned to join the programmers, taking direct command.
Xu Yinsheng stepped forward and lowered her voice: “You don’t have to be so serious. You’re scaring them.”
Zhao Yicheng also lowered his voice, replying meaningfully, “It helps improve work efficiency. Besides, he was personally promoted by my father.”
***
Xu Yinsheng blinked thoughtfully: “Wow, a wealthy family inheritance battle? Looks like we’re in for a good show~”
“If I’m wealthy, then you’re the wealthy wife.”
“Get lost~”
A cold wind blew through the window outside, ruffling Xu Yinsheng’s thin pajamas.
They had rushed out, both dressed only in sleepwear.
It was already autumn, and the night temperature hovered around one or two degrees Celsius.
Seeing this, Zhao Yicheng frowned slightly, took a coat from a nearby chair—not knowing whose it was—and draped it over Xu Yinsheng, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles.
Xu Yinsheng rolled her eyes.
“I’m a Magic Energy Automaton. I don’t feel cold.”
“I care.”
Zhao Yicheng smoothed the black strands at the collar of the coat, speaking calmly.
Xu Yinsheng’s mouth twitched.
Damn, so cheesy.
And that coat isn’t even yours, is it?
“Boss.”
At that moment, Li Yuan pushed open the door carrying a cup of hot cocoa.
Zhao Yicheng took it and handed it to Xu Yinsheng.
“Warm up your stomach first. If you get hungry later, I’ll get you some late-night snacks.”
Li Yuan stood discreetly to the side, giving them ample space.
Xu Yinsheng glanced at Li Yuan, then at the busy Security Department staff, then at the wide-open window letting in the cold wind, and finally at Zhao Yicheng—also in thin pajamas—standing in the chill.
Her mouth twitched in silent exasperation.
She put down the hot cocoa, closed the window, and grabbed the remote to turn on the heater.
They say love makes people lose their brains, but she wasn’t even dating Zhao Yicheng.
It’s so cold, yet he gave her his coat and didn’t put on one himself.
What about the employees?
Don’t they feel cold?!
No sense of common courtesy at all.
The heater lived up to its name, and the room quickly warmed up.
Xu Yinsheng returned the coat.
“Found it!”
Suddenly, a technician shouted out.
Everyone turned their attention to him, Zhao Yicheng included.
The technician didn’t hesitate and immediately pulled up the surveillance footage for all to see.
The screen showed Thursday night, around 11 or 12 p.m.
A woman wearing a padded coat and glasses, carrying a folder, entered Zhao Yicheng’s office… and emerged a few minutes later.
“Is that Minister Jin?”
Li Yuan’s expression was surprised.
The next day at noon—normally a weekend—due to some urgent matter, Jin Xinnuo was called back to the company by phone.
Xu Yinsheng watched as Jin Xinnuo staggered out of the Security Department interrogation room, pale-faced.
Suddenly, she tripped and nearly fell.
Xu Yinsheng quickly stepped forward to steady her.
“Are you okay, Xinnuo?”
“I’m fine.”
Jin Xinnuo forced a smile, her complexion looking terrible.
“I think I’ll be suspended for a while.”
“You…”
Xu Yinsheng hesitated, then clenched her fist to her chest and declared earnestly, “I believe you.”
“Thank you.”
After seeing Jin Xinnuo off, Xu Yinsheng strode into Zhao Yicheng’s office, with a hint of accusation in her tone.
She pushed open the door to find Zhao Yicheng seriously working on some documents.
Zhao Corporation was one of the country’s well-known enterprises.
Although it couldn’t compare to the nation’s pillars, it was respectable, with branches in hotels, clothing, food, and especially finance.
Xu Yinsheng walked over and slapped her hand on his desk with a sharp “smack,” anger flashing in her eyes, pulling him out of his work.
“It’s not her!”
“I know.”
Zhao Yicheng nodded, then looked up at Xu Yinsheng.
“Minister Jin is only one of the suspects. Without concrete evidence, legally or morally, we can’t convict her.”
“Then why did you…”
Xu Yinsheng glared at him, indignant.
“Suspending her with pay is already a generous treatment.”
Zhao Yicheng picked her up and let her sit on his lap, patiently explaining.
“Only by catching the real thief can her name be cleared.”
Xu Yinsheng nodded in understanding.
“By the way, what exactly were those confidential files? Have you seen them? Tell me.”
She blinked her big eyes, curious.
“They’re some of the company’s Middle Management Tender Plans.”
Zhao Yicheng pinched her tender cheek and raised an eyebrow teasingly: “What, are you asking because one of my competitors bribed you? So are you going to fall in love with me and then switch sides?”
Xu Yinsheng rolled her eyes as if to say, “You should have some self-awareness.”
“Don’t run around these days. Stay by my side. This matter will be resolved soon.”
He casually changed the subject.
“By the way, don’t you think you’ve been a bit too close to that woman?”
“Don’t call me ‘dear’ all the time, it gives me goosebumps.”
Xu Yinsheng complained.
“Besides, she’s my ex-girlfriend. What’s wrong with me giving her a hand? I can’t just leave her in the lurch.”
“Well, I’m not you. You like to stab your good friends in the back.”
“An ex-girlfriend can’t compare to a current boyfriend. Besides, the playboy ‘Xu Yinsheng’ is dead. The one living now is my family’s well-behaved yet mischievous Xiao Yin.”
Zhao Yicheng bit Xu Yinsheng’s ear, his low, seductive voice laced with coaxing.
“Darling, come on, call me ‘husband’ for me.”
“Get lost!”
Xu Yinsheng wiped the liquid off her earlobe, her expression full of disgust.
“Feels like your mental illness is acting up again. Did you take your meds today?”
“No.”
“Then take them now.”
“It’s fine. Mental illness doesn’t shorten life.”
Xu Yinsheng was at a loss for words.