Chapter 137

Assistant Gao initially wanted to deny it, terrified as he was of his boss. However, he realized that if he didn't help clear up his boss's inner turmoil, it would be the employees who suffered the consequences.

With a righteous air, he nodded. "Exactly! Boss, if you truly love Ms. Xu, you shouldn't treat the person you care about like an employee. If she can't feel any warmth, she won't stay by your side. Besides, a man should be more proactive when pursuing a woman."

Pei Qiaonian intended to retort that he wasn't pursuing her at all, but the words died on his lips. He kept a stern face. "Go on..."

Assistant Gao felt a wave of relief. There was hope!

"Your marriage to your wife was very rushed, and she was previously your brother's partner."

Pei Qiaonian frowned in annoyance, correcting him, "She and Pei Jin never even married, so how could she be his partner?"

Assistant Gao: "..."

*He clearly cares quite a bit, doesn't he? Why is he being so stubborn?*

"Regardless of that connection, everyone knows that your wife used to be in love with Young Master Jin. Boss, if you want to win her heart, you have to be proactive and confess your feelings first. You still have a marriage certificate; as long as you don't get a divorce, she can't leave, can she? If your intentions are sincere, she will be moved eventually."

Pei Qiaonian: "..."

As it happened, he was scheduled to get a divorce tomorrow at three o'clock. The thought made him restless; he was still fuming at Xu Yunzhuo. He waved a hand. "Get out. Don't bother me unless it's urgent."

Assistant Gao had said all he could. He only hoped his boss would listen to reason and let someone manage him, so that the staff wouldn't have to keep working overtime with this workaholic every single day.

Pei Qiaonian, however, seriously considered Assistant Gao’s words. His meeting with Xu Yunzhuo was absurd to begin with, and that woman had certainly seen him completely exposed! He absolutely could not let her leave.

Tomorrow at three o'clock... He should talk to Xu Yunzhuo again.

...

Inside Xu Yunzhuo's apartment, she lay sprawled on the sofa, watching the sky outside turn completely dark through the window. On the coffee table sat a bag containing one million in cash. It sounded like a lot, but stacked together, it was just a square bundle that could easily fit into a backpack. She had borrowed it from Sister Cheng.

If she went to the police now, she would likely alert the murderer lurking in the shadows, and her plan would be ruined. Yet, if she didn't call the police, her life would be at risk, and she still needed to return this body to her sister in one piece.

[You aren't planning to take on two men by yourself, are you?]

System 077’s voice rang out, laced with a hint of mockery if one listened closely. Xu Yunzhuo was surprised it had appeared without being summoned, and puzzled by its inexplicable tone. Usually, the system was strictly professional.

"I intend to bring my foster mother down, let those two men turn on each other, and then have the police lying in wait to catch them all at once."

077 was silent for a moment before replying slowly, [But that foster mother has no real connection to you. She never raised you—she raised your sister. You don't need to go to such lengths.]

Xu Yunzhuo didn't answer, asking instead, "Is that why she never came back? Because she was afraid of these hidden threats? If these things didn't exist, she might have lived a happy life."

077 seemed to let out a soft laugh, its mechanical voice sounding oddly helpless. [Don't make decisions for her; she isn't actually happy. And don't put yourself in danger. Leave these dangerous matters to the police.]

The murderer was hiding in the dark, waiting to harm more people. Therefore, no matter what, Xu Yunzhuo had to eliminate this threat.

The next day, around noon, Xu Yunzhuo headed toward the address Zhang Weiqiang had given her. The location was quite remote; the car could only go as far as the outskirts, leaving a stretch of mountain path that she had to walk herself.

After paying the driver, Xu Yunzhuo hiked up the mountain alone with her backpack. Once she had walked a fair distance, a figure appeared behind her, following at a distance, neither too close nor too far.