The penthouse office was silent except for the faint hum of the city far below and the soft, relentless tapping of a pen against glass.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Zhang Wei sat behind his desk, eyes fixed on his laptop screen, though he hadn't truly seen the words in front of him for a while now. Search after search. Archive after archive. Old corporate records. Legal filings. News articles buried so deep they felt deliberately erased.
Nothing.
No Liu family scandal.
No hidden reports.
No traces beyond what the public already knew.
Just a fire tragedy.
He leaned back in his chair and dragged both hands down his face, fingers pressing into the bridge of his nose as if he could squeeze the thoughts out of his skull. His eyes burned. Dark circles clung stubbornly beneath them, the unmistakable proof of a man who hadn't slept, not because he couldn't, but because his mind refused to shut down.
Chen Bo's voice echoed again, uninvited and smug.
"Ask your father."
Wei exhaled slowly and picked up his pen again, tapping it against the desk in a controlled rhythm. He stared at his phone, unmoving.
Calling his father meant crossing a line.
Not calling meant pretending ignorance was still an option.
Neither felt safe.
After a moment, he straightened and pressed a button on his desk phone.
"Qin."
The line clicked almost instantly. "Yes, sir."
Wei didn't waste time. "Call the security. Release the bellboy and the maid. Effective immediately. The investigation will be on hold till further notice."
There was a pause on the other end. A careful one.
"Sir," Qin began, choosing his words, "with all due respect..."
"I said release them."
"But they're still under suspicion," Qin pushed gently. "If we let them go now, it could compromise..."
Wei's grip tightened around the phone.
"Stop questioning my orders."
The room seemed to harden around his voice.
A beat of silence.
"Yes, sir," Qin replied, tone clipped and obedient. "I'll see to it."
The call ended.
Wei leaned back again, staring at the ceiling this time. He wasn't blind to the irony. The bellboy and the maid hadn't been saints.
But they weren't the architects of the damage.
And he refused to cage small fish while the real culprit walked free, That wasn't how he'd been raised. That wasn't how the Zhang family survived this long.
The zhang's didn't strike blindly.
didn't move loudly.
They erased threats quietly, efficiently, without leaving fingerprints.
If Chen Bo was lying, Wei would expose it.
And if he wasn't...
Wei's jaw clenched.
Then this time, the truth would be uncovered silently.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
One of the maids stood just outside the door, head lowered. "Sir... someone has come to see you."
Wei didn't turn. "I'm not receiving visitors."
She hesitated, then stepped back quickly, whispering something to the bodyguard stationed nearby.
Moments later, the guard appeared at the doorway.
"Sir," he said carefully, "Miss Fang Hua is here."
Wei's pen stopped mid-tap.
He lifted his gaze slowly, eyes sharp now, unreadable. For a split second, irritation flickered across his face before he masked it.
He waved a hand dismissively. "Tell her I'm busy."
"Sir," the guard tried again, "she insists."
Wei stood.
He adjusted his shirt cuffs, buttoned his jacket with deliberate precision, and walked out without another word.
The main sitting room was warm, elegant, glowing with winter sunlight filtered through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Fang Hua stood near the sofa like she belonged there.
Perfectly styled hair.
Red lips curved into a knowing smile.
Heels that clicked confidently against marble floors.
A Chanel handbag resting casually on her arm.
Her gown was body fitting, daringly so for the season, hugging every curve as if cold weather was merely a suggestion she'd chosen to ignore.
Impressive.
Her smile widened the moment she saw him.
"Wei," she said warmly, already closing the distance. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing herself close. "It's been so long. Don't tell me you didn't miss me."
He didn't return the hug.
Instead, he gently, but firmly, stepped back.
"Have the maids take Miss Fang's things to the guest room," he instructed calmly.
Her smile faltered for half a second before she recovered.
She tilted her head, studying him. "You've changed," she said lightly. "So cold all of a sudden." Her gaze flicked briefly, meaningfully. "Or is it because of your wife?"
Wei didn't answer.
Upstairs, Zhao Mei sat on the edge of the bed, fingers curled tightly into the fabric of her blanket.
She felt awful.
Her head throbbed. Her body felt heavy, as though the nightmare from the night before had seeped into her bones. Fire. Heat. That voice again, calling her name, urging her to run.
She hadn't slept properly since.
When Qiao Qiao quietly informed her that a lady had come to see the young master, Mei barely reacted at first.
Then she looked up.
"A... lady?"
Xiao Lan frowned. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Mei shook her head slowly. "Did you know who she is ?"
"No," Qiao Qiao replied gently. "I just thought you should know."
After she left, Xiao Lan turned fully toward Mei. "Does your husband keep female friends?"
Mei hesitated.
"I... I don't think so," she said truthfully. "I've never heard of any. Never seen anyone."
Xiao Lan stood abruptly. "Then let's go see."
Mei blinked. "What?"
"Come on," Xiao Lan said, already reaching for her coat. "Curiosity won't kill us."
Mei hesitated, then reluctantly stood and pulled on something warm.
On the way, they nearly collided with Zhang Jun.
"Where are you two rushing off to?" he asked, amused.
Xiao Lan didn't miss a beat. "I think your brother is keeping a mistress."
Jun raised a brow. "That's a bold accusation."
Mei lightly smacked Xiao Lan's arm. "Don't say things like that."
Xiao Lan pouted. "I'm just saying what crossed my mind."
Jun chuckled. "I don't remember my cousin keeping mistresses, The only woman I remember my brother being close to is Fang Hua. And she is a close family friend ."
Something tightened in Mei's chest.
They reached the sitting room just in time to see Wei standing next to the woman, too close.
Jun's expression shifted instantly. Recognition flashed across his face.
"Fang Hua?" he said with a grin. "Wow. It's really you."
He walked over easily, greeting her like an old friend. They exchanged pleasantries, laughter soft and familiar.
Jun glanced at Mei and smiled reassuringly. "She's family. Don't worry."
Fang Hua turned then, eyes sharp and assessing.
Her perfume drifted through the air, sweet, expensive, overwhelming.
Mei suddenly felt painfully aware of herself. Her simple clothes. Her pale complexion. The way she stood just half a step behind Wei.
Small.
Wei noticed.
He reached for Mei's hand, pulling her gently closer.
"You look pale," he murmured. "Are you feeling unwell?"
She forced a smile. "I'm fine."
He didn't look convinced.
"This is Zhao Mei," Wei said, turning to Fang Hua. "My wife."
Fang Hua smiled. It didn't reach her eyes.
"So this is her," she thought coolly. Interesting.
"Our families have been business partners for years," Wei continued evenly. "She'll be staying for a while. You can get along with her but If anyone gives you trouble, don't hesitate to tell me."
Mei nodded politely.
"Nice to meet you," Fang Hua said sweetly.
"You too," Mei replied.
Their smiles were perfect.
And completely hollow.
As Fang Hua studied her, a sharp, private thought crossed her mind.
"Enjoy it while it lasts."
Her lips curved slightly, just enough.
"Because I'm here to take my place back."
The room buzzed with polite conversation, laughter floating easily.
But beneath it...
Ice cracked.
********