Chapter 47 Scandal

Chapter 47: The Bombshell

Second Chen stared at Xie Xinyi, eyes unblinking. His mother, exasperated by his behavior, jabbed him sharply with her elbow.

Only after being nudged did Second Chen snap back to reality. "Uh... who... who are you?" he stammered.

He shoved the half-eaten apple into his wife’s hands but couldn’t resist sneaking another look at Xie Xinyi. "What did you say earlier? How long does my brother need to stay in the hospital?"

Seeing that he had finally asked the key question, Xie Xinyi piled it on. "That’s what the doctor said. If you don’t believe me, you can go ask. The doctor also mentioned that for Eldest Brother Chen’s condition, resting for three to five months would be on the short side."

Three to five months?

At this, not only the Chen family but even Big Chen, lying in bed, shot a surprised look.

"For those who recover well, it takes three to five months. But many people with milder conditions rest for a full year," Xie Xinyi continued, ignoring Big Chen’s gaze and addressing Chen Mother and Second Chen with a "so-called factual" tone.

"You know how it is—at the food factory, every position is one man per hole. If Eldest Brother Chen rests for three to five months, it might be manageable. But if he really needs a full year... it’s hard to say whether the factory would even keep him."

Hearing this, Chen Mother couldn’t maintain her composure. Her face went through a rainbow of colors with fright.

If the food factory really let Big Chen go, what would happen to her second son’s family?

She glanced at Big Chen, who lay silently with his eyes closed, then turned to Second Chen, who was stuffing apples into their child’s pockets. She felt a surge of anger she couldn’t voice, turning her face ashen.

That useless eldest son—why did he have to fall at such a time, just when they had come to rely on him?

And now, he might need to rest for a year.

Thinking of the nearly empty rice jar and the barren cellar, Chen Mother cursed inwardly. But then, something struck her as odd.

She looked up at Xie Xinyi, recalling the girl’s earlier behavior at their home...

Was she being tricked again?

Unable to be sure, Chen Mother decided to ask the doctor herself. But before she could stand up, the girl spoke again.

"Oh, by the way, Auntie Chen, when we brought Eldest Brother Chen to the hospital the other day, we didn’t have any money. Since you’re here today, why not settle the overdue medical bills at the doctor’s office? That way, they’ll stop bothering us."

What? There were unpaid medical bills?

Chen Mother, who had just lifted herself slightly, plopped back into her seat with a thud. Her eyes shifted nervously, and her expression changed dramatically.

She hesitated, avoiding Xie Xinyi’s gaze and hemming and hawing without making a move. Seeing this, Xiao Jiang kindly suggested, "Auntie Chen, if you don’t know where to pay, I can go with you."

"Sister Chen is probably unfamiliar with the hospital since it’s her first time here. Xiao Jiang, since you’re free, why not accompany her?" Ms. Liu chimed in at the right moment.

The two of them tag-teamed, putting Chen Mother in a tight spot. Xie Xinyi even gestured for her to go with a "please." Cornered, Chen Mother resorted to turtling, saying they would settle the bills after Big Chen received his salary.

Even at a time like this, she was still fixated on her son’s paltry paycheck.

Xie Xinyi snorted in disdain, and Big Chen finally saw right through these so-called "family members."

"Alright, you should leave now," he said to Chen Mother and Second Chen, his tone weary but firm.

He chose not to expose Xie Xinyi's lie, knowing full well that she had done it for his sake.

Though the outcome was less than ideal, it was hardly unexpected.

After all, having dealt with these people for so many years, Big Chen understood their scheming nature better than anyone.

Back when he left his hometown alone to seek his fortune, he rode the wave of economic boom and became a respected worker at a food processing plant. He got married, had children, and life seemed to be getting better and better—until his mother arrived with Second Chen tagging along.

His mother had always played favorites, doting on Second Chen since they were kids. As soon as they arrived, they either pestered him to get Second Chen a job or asked him for money.

If he said jobs were hard to come by, they accused him of not caring. If he refused to give them money, they would hound him from dawn till dusk, even going so far as to make a scene at the office where Da Ya’s mother worked.

After years of such harassment, Da Ya’s mother eventually left their three daughters behind and ran off with someone else. What was once a happy family fell apart due to their relentless interference—yet the mother and son still weren’t satisfied.

After driving Da Ya’s mother away, they came up with excuses every year to mooch off him at his home.

It wasn’t that Big Chen never refused them, but every time he said no, their demands became even more unreasonable.

Was it because he didn’t fight back?

No—it was because resisting was futile.

After more than a decade of this, he was completely drained.

His fall down the stairs happened because Second Chen had gotten drunk the night before, and Big Chen had stayed up late cleaning up after him. The next morning, he had to wake up early to line up for youtiao for the whole family.

Exhausted from lack of sleep and chilled to the bone from the cold morning, he went to work in a daze and, before he knew it, took a nasty fall down the stairs.

At first, he didn’t think it was serious. Everyone urged him to go to the hospital, but he refused, thinking he just needed to lie down for a bit. Little did he know that resting at home almost cost him his life.

When he woke up and heard from Ms. Liu about the ordeal she went through to get him to the hospital, he was surprised, but not entirely shocked.

This was how things had always been for him. At first, he didn’t think much of it—until Xie Xinyi’s lie exposed his mother and Second Chen’s true reactions. Only then did the truth finally hit him.

Perhaps he had been too much of a pushover toward these so-called relatives, to the point where it took a life-threatening wake-up call for him to wake up and see their true colors.

If it hadn’t been for Ms. Liu and Xie Xinyi going to great lengths to help him, he might have been long gone by now.

“In the face of life and death, nothing else matters.”

Those were the first words Xie Xinyi said to him after he woke up, and they made him reflect deeply.

Over the past decade, he had given all he could and endured all he had to, yet it still wasn’t enough to satisfy that entire family.

Maybe Ms. Liu was right—it was time for him to make a clean break.

Steeling himself, he spoke the harshest words he had ever uttered to the mother and son. While they were still in disbelief, he added, “I’m injured and can’t work now. I’m also buried in medical debt, and I have three daughters to care for. You’ll have to help look after them for a while.”

Then, regardless of their reaction, he turned his back on them, shutting them out entirely.

Chen’s mother stood there stunned, unable to process what had just happened.

She had never imagined that Big Chen, always so meek and obedient, would say such things. He was used to biting his tongue—even when his wife was driven away, he had merely said, “She’s gone, so let it be.”

But now, just because they had arrived a few days late and complained a little more, not only did Big Chen tell them to leave, he even turned his back on her.

Chen’s mother was in disbelief, but Second Chen couldn’t wait to get away from the mess.

He had come to ask for money, but instead of getting any, he was now expected to help take care of three children. Even someone as slow-witted as Second Chen knew this was a raw deal.

He took advantage of Mother Chen's distracted state to gather up all the fruit he could carry from the table, then slowly moved closer to her and nudged her with his elbow, signaling that it was time for them to leave.

It was indeed time to go; otherwise, they'd have to give back more than they gained.

Although Mother Chen found it hard to believe, she still understood what was important.

"Well... we'll head back first. Da Ya and the others are still at home."

Stammering out the words, Mother Chen followed Second Chen as they slowly made their way toward the door.

Big Chen didn't respond, but Ms. Liu quickly grabbed Mother Chen just as she reached the doorway. "Hey, Sister Chen, what about the unpaid medical fees?"

"What medical fees? I... I don't know anything about that." Mother Chen tried to shake off Ms. Liu's hand while quickening her pace to leave. "I... I have no money. Whoever was hospitalized, go ask them for it."

With that, not even waiting for Second Chen's wife to catch up, the mother and son fled like routed soldiers, disappearing in no time.

"This family..."

Ms. Liu spat in disgust in the direction they had left, and Xiao Jiang remarked in disbelief that there were people even more biased than Shang's mother. Xie Xinyi watched Big Chen, the figure lying on the bed.

Though he said nothing, his entire demeanor exuded a sense of dejection—the kind that made it seem as though all his strength had been drained.

Recovery takes time, and rebuilding his life would take time.

Big Chen was thoughtful and sensitive, not as naive as Xiao Jiang.

For him to move on, it might take several times more time and space than it would for Xiao Jiang.

Xie Xinyi knew it wouldn’t be easy, so after leaving the hospital, she reached an agreement with Ms. Liu and the others.

They would give Big Chen a few months. During this time, they wouldn’t disturb him, not interfere, or offer any opinions. Whatever he eventually decided or did would be his own choice.

Just as they had settled on this, while Big Chen remained quiet, Xiao Jiang dropped a bombshell.

Li Xiaofang had given birth!

But the child’s father wasn’t Shang Fushun!

When Xiao Jiang arrived at the workshop beaming with excitement, Xie Xinyi thought she'd won the lottery.

"What’s got you so happy?"

Ms. Liu put down her knitting and looked over. Xiao Jiang deliberately played coy and told them to guess.

"Guess? How are we supposed to guess?"

Xie Xinyi and Ms. Liu suggested several possibilities that could have made Xiao Jiang this happy, but none were correct.

"It’s Shang Fushun—his wife gave birth."

Shang Fushun’s wife gave birth?

At first, Xie Xinyi didn’t quite process it, but when Xiao Jiang raised an eyebrow meaningfully at her, she realized Xiao Jiang was talking about Li Xiaofang giving birth.

"What did she have?" Ms. Liu asked curiously.

"The one his Shang family has been dreaming of—a boy," Xiao Jiang said with a cold sneer.

Her tone was full of disdain. Xie Xinyi thought she was just venting her frustrations, but no sooner had she spoken than Xiao Jiang added a "but."

Li Xiaofang gave birth, but there was a twist?

Xie Xinyi and Ms. Liu leaned in close, all ears, but what Xiao Jiang said next left them utterly stunned.

"Li Xiaofang did have a son, but the child’s father isn’t Shang Fushun."

What? His own wife gives birth, and the biological father isn’t him?

"My aunt’s husband’s cousin’s older sister works at the same factory as Shang Fushun. This news has spread all over their factory. The biological father showed up just as Shang Fushun was asking around to buy formula for his son."

Xiao Jiang sneered, recounting everything she had heard without missing a detail.

Li Xiaofang had given birth over ten days ago—a healthy baby boy weighing a hefty eight pounds. But before the Shang family could celebrate for long, a burly man showed up at Shang Fushun’s workplace.

He didn’t go to the Shang home but went straight to the factory to find Shang Fushun, and he chose to do it right after work when the crowd was largest.

When the two started arguing at the factory gate, the place was packed solid with onlookers.

"My relative was there and said the man immediately accused Li Xiaofang of cheating. At first, Shang Fushun argued back righteously, but when the burly man publicly described a unique mark on Li Xiaofang’s body, Shang Fushun immediately couldn't take it anymore."

"The two got into a physical fight at the factory gate, and eventually, someone called the police. Both Shang Fushun and the burly man were taken in for questioning."

They were taken away by the police?

"According to the burly man, he and Li Xiaofang had been involved back in their village. The burly man’s family was well-off—his father was the village head. Later, Shang Fushun returned to the village a few times, and somehow, he and Li Xiaofang got together."

Although Shang Fushun was just an apprentice, he was a formal worker with a stable job, had put down roots in Beijing, received a regular salary, enjoyed generous benefits, had access to running water without having to fetch it, and lived in a clean home instead of toiling in the fields. These were things the son of a small village head couldn’t match.

Li Xiaofang wasn’t the dutiful type—Xie Xinyi had known that from their first meeting.

Before Shang Fushun returned to the village, the burly man might have been a decent choice. Li Xiaofang had no qualms about getting involved with him, unmarried and with no commitment, fearless of gossip or abandonment. That kind of boldness wasn’t common among most girls.

Later, when Shang Fushun returned to the village, and since Shang’s mother couldn’t keep quiet, she soon publicly shared how sought-after her son was.

Even after learning that Shang Fushun was married, Li Xiaofang disregarded societal expectations and pursued him aggressively—talking about childhood connections, unresolved feelings... anything to create a bond.

Before Shang Fushun went to Beijing, she didn’t care about him.

But after Shang Fushun returned home in glory, he suddenly became her "dearest Fushun brother."

A woman like Li Xiaofang knew exactly what kind of life she wanted and how to get it. Every step she took was carefully calculated, with no room for error—and she wouldn’t allow any.

She was riding one horse while looking for another, convinced everything would go as she planned. But she never expected the burly man to be even more cunning than her, biding his time.

He didn’t seek her out when she came to Beijing or when she got pregnant and married. It was only after she gave birth that he suddenly showed up at Shang Fushun’s workplace.

He didn’t approach Li Xiaofang privately but went straight to Shang Fushun.

The timing was perfect, and the accusation of cheating left Shang Fushun stunned and humiliated.

Xiao Jiang vividly described Shang Fushun’s expression at the time and even dug up what had been happening in the Shang family recently.

"No one knows who the child’s father is, but the burly man insists it’s his. The timing of their intimacy aligns perfectly with the child’s birth. Shang Fushun has been forced to swallow a bitter pill—whether he accepts it or rejects it, it’s going to disgust him for a long time."

Yes, with the child constantly in front of him, even if Li Xiaofang repeatedly assured him that nothing happened with Sun Jian, Shang Fushun was utterly disgusted.

After Sun Jian caused the scene, Shang Fushun moved into the factory dormitory.

To his dismay that after all his picking and choosing, he had discarded a blank sheet only to end up with a soiled newspaper, Shang Fushun was filled with regret. Li Xiaofang came to the factory several times holding the baby, but he refused to see her even once.

Back when the child was first born, he had felt that the baby didn’t resemble him at all. At the time, he comforted himself by saying that sons usually take after their mothers more. It wasn’t until he saw Sun Jian that day that he realized how foolish and ridiculous he had been.

Self-deception couldn’t withstand the test of reality. Whether Li Xiaofang and Sun Jian had actually been involved or not, he didn’t need either of them to swear on their lives—he already had the answer in his heart.

As for whether Li Xiaofang had known earlier that she was carrying Sun Jian’s child, and what her intentions were when she spoke those words through tears at the entrance of Lijia Village that day, Shang Fushun no longer wanted to dwell on it.

He was the one at fault first; he was the one who had abandoned his originally innocent wife, who was like a blank sheet.

This was retribution—instant karma in this very life.

Because his mother had said that Jiang Tiantian wasn't fit to bear children, he had started entertaining other ideas. Now, well, someone had indeed borne him a child, but it wasn’t carrying the Shang family blood.

He was filled with remorse, but there was nothing he could do.

Now, the entire factory knew he had been cuckolded. Having already been divorced once, getting divorced again was unrealistic, yet staying married would mean being laughed at for the rest of his life.

This bitter resentment lodged in his heart, neither coming up nor going down. He simply decided to avoid what disgusted him—out of sight, out of mind.

After moving out from home, Shang Fushun never returned. He had sent his mother back to Lijia Village the very next day after the incident. As for what Li Xiaofang and the child ate or drank at home, he couldn’t care less.

Not only did he not care, he actively avoided them. When Li Xiaofang came to his workplace looking for him, he would either hide in another workshop or bolt himself in his dorm room.

Everyone in the factory knew about his family situation, and Shang Fushun was shameless.

Li Xiaofang came looking for him holding the child, but he refused to see her. Instead, he repeatedly went to Guohui Food Factory to look for Xiao Jiang.

He didn’t enter the workshop to find Xiao Jiang; instead, he would stealthily hide under a tree outside the gate every day during her coming and going from work.

When he saw Xiao Jiang, he wouldn’t greet her but would instead follow her like a creep, which infuriated her so much that within a few days, she found herself a "flower protector."

The flower protector was introduced by Xiao Jiang’s sister-in-law. Not long after her divorce, her sister-in-law had screened several potential matches for her.

One was an inspector at a fertilizer factory. His family circumstances weren’t great, but he was honest and had never been married. He was from the suburbs of Beijing.

Another was a clerk at the agricultural bureau. His family was well-off, he was a native of Beijing, and his wife had died in a car accident a few years ago, leaving behind a three-year-old child.

There was also a doctor at a suburban hospital, an only child from his family, divorced with no children.

These options were decent matches for Xiao Jiang. Her sister-in-law, thinking that Xiao Jiang might not be ready to accept another marriage so soon after her divorce, had only briefly mentioned them.

Xiao Jiang had mentioned this to Xie Xinyi and the others at the time, saying she had no immediate plans to remarry. Little did she expect that one day she would be driven to desperate measures by that heartless Shang Fushun.

The despicable man lurked like a ghost on her commute every day, either following her or trying to curry favor. At first, Xiao Jiang thought ignoring him would make him go away, but to her amusement, he had the audacity to shamelessly beg her to remarry him.

"Remarry? I’d rather remarry a ghost!"

No sooner had Xiao Jiang cursed him out in the workshop than she brought a "flower protector" to the factory.

To everyone’s surprise, Xiao Jiang didn’t choose the most popular candidate, but rather the least favored twice-married clerk.

After hearing the news, Ms. Liu and Cui Mama took a long time to make sense of it, until someone came to the workshop to report that at the factory gate, the twice-married clerk had knocked Shang Fushun's teeth out. Only then did they understand why Xiao Jiang had chosen this twice-married clerk.

Being honest doesn’t necessarily mean having integrity.

Shang Fushun seemed honest enough, yet he still behaved disgracefully.

Being married before and having a child doesn't define someone's character.

Although Zha Gan Shi is divorced with a child, he has his priorities straight and understands respect.

As Xie Xinyi put it, choosing a marriage partner is like selecting a business partner. A child raised in a family with good conditions and parents who are reasonable and understanding is bound to have a clearer sense of right and wrong and better understands respect and how to guide others compared to one from a narrow-minded, nitpicking household.

Although the fertilizer plant inspector was popular, his family background and upbringing were cut from the same cloth as Shang Fushun’s.

He may be honest and dedicated to his job for years without advancing, but clearly, like Shang Fushun, he lacks both emotional intelligence and intellect.

In contrast, Zha Gan Shi, compared to the fertilizer plant inspector, the fact that he has a child works against him. However, his parents are both well-educated intellectuals—one a retired doctor, the other a factory director—so his family upbringing is beyond question.

Otherwise, Zha Gan Shi wouldn’t have waited so many years after his wife’s passing to remarry, nor would he have repeatedly explained his daughter’s situation to prospective matches before meetings, respecting and understanding their decisions.

When Xiao Jiang initially mentioned these three men, Xie Xinyi felt that Zha Gan Shi was the most dependable. Later, when Xiao Jiang was pressured by her family to meet him, he gave her ample space and time to make a decision without rushing, which further convinced Xie Xinyi that he was trustworthy.

At the time, however, Xiao Jiang’s family leaned more toward the third candidate—the doctor at the suburban hospital, an only child who, though divorced, had no children.

Xiao Jiang obediently met him but later told Xie Xinyi and the others that the man had something wrong with him, and it was a big problem.

The first question he asked upon meeting Xiao Jiang was whether she would accept a sexless marriage.

Such a question might be more acceptable in later years, but in the conservative 1970s, it was enough to make anyone think he had serious problems.

So when Xiao Jiang brought her "protector" to the factory, Xie Xinyi had guessed it would be Zha Gan Shi, but she hadn’t expected him to be not only principled but also so formidable in a fight.

When the messenger led them to the scene, Shang Fushun was clutching his stomach, lying on the ground and howling, "Who are you? How dare you hit people randomly?"

Zha Gan Shi, standing over six feet tall with his sleeves rolled up, shielded Xiao Jiang behind him while clenching his fist. He looked down coldly at the man on the ground and said calmly, "I’ve already reported this to the police. Let’s see whether they arrest me for hitting someone or you for public misconduct."

He didn't say much, but his words were impactful—he defended Xiao Jiang’s reputation while explaining the situation succinctly.

He was clearly someone who could handle things.

Shang Fushun’s scheme backfired; not only did he fail to win anyone back, but he also ended up paving the way for a good marriage.

Touched by being saved by her hero, Xiao Jiang happily married her hero before the year-end selection for the R&D team.

As for Shang Fushun, he was taken away for a month of re-education through verbal criticism for attempted harassment and lost his apprentice job upon returning.

On Xiao Jiang’s wedding day, Xie Xinyi and Gu Yu attended the ceremony with gifts.

The bright two-story house was adorned with wedding decorations everywhere. A sewing machine tied with red ribbons and a brand-new TV were prominently displayed in the living room. Guests came in waves, creating a lively atmosphere.

According to Sister Liu, when Xiao Jiang married Shang Fushun, she didn’t even have the "32 legs" (a traditional reference to basic furniture), and the betrothal gifts were patched together from loans. She had never even seen a radio or sewing machine, let alone a TV or sofa.

"So, it really depends on who you spend your life with," Sister Liu couldn’t help but sigh.

Zha Gan Shi knew how to navigate situations well. Though it was his second marriage, the wedding was more grandly celebrated than many first marriages.

"I heard Zha Gan Shi planned everything himself. That silly girl Xiao Jiang didn’t have to worry about a thing," Auntie Cui joked, her face full of laugh lines, clearly genuinely happy for Xiao Jiang’s good fortune.

Old Chen also brought his three daughters today. Watching Zha Gan Shi block the liquor for the girl behind him, he rarely smiled and said, "Xiao Jiang has finally found happiness after all her hardships."

"Indeed, her bitterness has finally turned sweet. She always envied Xie Xinyi for having a man to back her up, but now she finally has someone to stand in front of her, letting her get to be a woman herself."

The innuendo from the seasoned woman caught Xie Xinyi off guard. Before she could react, Cui Mama covered her mouth and burst into laughter, "Oh my, Ms. Liu, her man is right here, what are you saying?"

Xie Xinyi was slow to catch on and followed everyone's gaze to the man standing beside her.

Thankfully, his expression was cold, giving nothing away.

She just couldn't understand why someone like him would be someone Xiao Jiang would envy.

With a perpetually stern face, he neither blushed nor explained when teased—utterly dull and rigid. But there was an advantage, as Ms. Liu had said: his stone-faced look made anyone who saw him feel intimidated.

Xie Xinyi recalled Ms. Liu's description of her first encounter with Gu Yu and couldn't help but glance at the man again.

With his sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he never smiled. Even when clearly impatient, he still stood by her side, putting up with the good-natured teasing from others.

As for Ms. Liu's unexpectedly risqué comment, it had to be said, it was quite fitting.

Though the man stood in the yard as seriously as if he were in a pre-battle meeting, once night fell, he was anything but proper.

On the bed, in the bathroom, at the vanity, on the floor... everywhere became his hunting grounds.

Having lived two lives, Xie Xinyi was experiencing for the first time that positions could be so varied, their activities could last until dawn, and roles could be exchanged.

During this time, Xie Xinyi hadn't spent a single night sleeping in bed.

Despite the frequent activity, the man was exceptionally energetic. For instance, today, even though he had worked overtime until midnight the previous night and woke up at 5 a.m. to buy her favorite youtiao, then accompanied her to the department store, he still stood bright-eyed and energetic by her side.

Truly, as a former soldier, his physical stamina was beyond ordinary.

Xie Xinyi was getting wary of his stamina. Worried that Ms. Liu would continue down that path, she quickly changed the subject with a smile.

As she handed White Rabbit candy to Da Ya and Er Ya, Gu Yu also turned to look.

Noticing the girl's slightly reddened ears and her subtle attempt to avoid his gaze, he didn't hold back. Instead, he went to the next table to gather more White Rabbit candy for her.

"Enough, less candy for the kids who are losing teeth."

"Then you eat it."

In response to her half-hearted objection, Gu Yu ignored her and tucked the candy into Xie Xinyi's pocket.

San Ya, who had been ready to take the candy: "..."

Wasn't the rule to give less candy to kids losing teeth?

She was only six—shouldn't she be allowed to eat some?

Xiao Jiang's wedding banquet was lively. The next day, Officer Zha and Xiao Jiang personally delivered wedding favors of cigarettes and candy to their workshop colleagues.

They were thoughtful and considerate, understanding etiquette and sentiment.

Everyone in the workshop praised Officer Zha highly, and Xiao Jiang's smile hadn't faded since the previous day.

Since the R&D team was to be established by the end of the year and they'd be making yuanxiao, Xiao Jiang had taken only two days off for her wedding.

By the time everyone came down from the wedding high, the Frozen Products Workshop had entered its busiest season of the year.

The selection competition for the R&D team members was scheduled for the next morning. Big Chen had temporarily withdrawn due to injury. Following the rule that each team in the Frozen Products Workshop must nominate one person, Cui Mama didn't hesitate to put forward Xie Xinyi's name.

Forced to step forward, Xie Xinyi wasn't bothered in the least.

After all, whether she would be selected was beyond her control. Rather than worrying, she might as well have some fun while she still had time.

By the time Xie Xinyi lay glistening with a light sweat on the bed again, the moon was already high in the sky.

After tidying up, the man pulled her back into his arms, his hands still roaming restlessly.

"Stop it, I have something important tomorrow."

"What could be more important than me?"

Gu Yu's voice, heavy with satisfaction, whispered in her ear, making Xie Xinyi shiver. "Tomorrow, we're selecting the R&D team members."

"Even that requires a selection process?"

The man leaned closer, burying his face in her neck, and murmured, "It seems things are really changing."

His voice was soft, but Xie Xinyi heard him clearly. Thinking of the original book's account of the mogul's success story, she guessed he must have sensed the changing tides around this time.

It had to be said, Gu Yu's mind was sharp as a tack. While others saw the benefits of the R&D team, he perceived the broader changes in the environment.

Xie Xinyi went quiet. She considered asking him about his plans but ultimately decided against it.

She didn't know the first thing about market trends and couldn't offer advice or help. As someone who'd traveled through time, she couldn't reveal her identity. All she could do was let the original story play out.

As for what the future would hold, she couldn't change what was coming. She would simply wait and see.